Coming in November for $700, the upgraded console’s graphics are stunning, but is it a necessary upgrade for everyone?
Sitting in front of an 80-inch TV, immersed in the world of Gran Turismo 7, is a jaw-dropping experience. The game’s ultra-realistic graphics and enhanced 8K resolution create an almost surreal level of clarity. As the cars race across the screen, the new 4K ray-tracing mode brings the visuals to life, casting dynamic reflections on other vehicles in real time. For a moment, it feels as if I’m inside the car, experiencing the race firsthand. It’s like being in a VR environment, only without the cumbersome headset.
I was invited to Sony’s PlayStation headquarters in San Mateo to test the brand-new PlayStation 5 Pro, which is scheduled to hit the shelves on November 7th for $700. Preorders for this much-anticipated console will be available starting September 26th. As I navigated a room filled with multiple demo stations, I played familiar games like Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank, each running on the PS5 Pro. Sony’s lead system architect, Mark Cerny, walked me through the various improvements the Pro brings compared to the standard PS5, allowing me to view side-by-side comparisons on two monitors.
The differences were evident. Everything felt smoother, crisper, and more fluid. Yet, as stunning as the PS5 Pro is, I couldn’t help but wonder if the sometimes subtle upgrades would justify the price for most players. With the standard PS5 available for $500, and likely to be even more affordable during holiday sales, the jump to $700 might be too much for casual gamers. This is not the PlayStation 6 that many are eagerly awaiting — that’s still a few years away. The PS5 Pro is for enthusiasts who demand the very best in visual performance, but it won’t be for everyone.
An evolution, not a revolution
The PS5 Pro is designed for one primary goal: to elevate the gaming experience on large-screen TVs. Thanks to its upgraded GPU, the console promises more fluid 4K gaming, enhanced ray tracing, and 60 frames-per-second (fps) gameplay for titles that receive Pro patches. Additionally, the Pro introduces automatic AI upscaling for older games in the PlayStation library, significantly boosting their resolution and clarity. One of the most touted features is its enhanced ray tracing — a graphical technique used to simulate how light behaves in the real world. By the time the console launches, Sony has promised that around 40 to 50 games will receive performance patches specifically for the PS5 Pro, taking full advantage of its hardware.
During my hands-on session, I tested more than half a dozen games on the PS5 Pro and had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Cerny and Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Platform Business Group. Together, we discussed what the Pro means for the future of gaming on PlayStation and what players can expect in the years to come.
Design: Sleek and surprisingly compact
One of the most surprising things about the PS5 Pro is that it’s not the gigantic console some had feared. Its design closely resembles the standard PS5, but it’s actually a bit smaller. This came as a shock, considering the additional power the Pro offers under the hood. Even compared to the PS5 Slim, which launched last year, the size difference isn’t as dramatic as I expected.
The most notable external change is the addition of black ribbed vents across the center, a design element teased in Sony’s 30th-anniversary logo. These vents are more than just aesthetic; they serve to dissipate heat from the console’s powerful hardware. However, they do render the PS5 Pro incompatible with existing PS5 covers, which may disappoint players looking to swap out the panels for a more personalized look. Another small tweak is the replacement of one of the rear USB-A ports with a USB-C port, aligning with the trend towards USB-C compatibility across modern devices.
Despite these changes, the Pro is designed to fit into the same space as your older PS5. Unlike the chunkier PS4 Pro, which required additional shelf space, the PS5 Pro’s size should easily slot into your existing gaming setup. For those who prefer a vertical orientation, Sony offers an optional $30 stand.
However, one major shift is the lack of an optical disc drive. Instead, the Pro ships with a larger 2TB solid-state drive (SSD) and the same expandable M2 SSD support as the standard PS5. Should you want an optical drive, you can still attach one separately, but this change signifies Sony’s clear commitment to a digital future, where downloadable games are the standard. With Wi-Fi 7 support built into the console, players can expect faster downloads, provided they have a compatible router.
Graphics and performance: The star of the show
The real magic of the PS5 Pro lies in its upgraded GPU. Sony claims the Pro’s GPU offers 67% more computing cores, 28% faster RAM, and a 45% improvement in rendering speed compared to the standard PS5. While the CPU and SSD remain the same, the GPU is where the Pro truly shines.
There are three main upgrades that the PS5 Pro brings to the table. First, expect more ray tracing. Second, AI-assisted upscaling for 4K gaming, dubbed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, will be available for all games, provided they are patched to support the feature. Lastly, a new “Pro mode” will allow for games to run at 60fps in 4K, giving players the best of both worlds.
In the demos I played, these features were on full display. Gran Turismo 7 looked phenomenal in both 4K and 8K modes, particularly when ray tracing effects were turned on. The reflections on the car’s glossy surfaces were so detailed that I found myself getting distracted, leading to more than a few crashes. Horizon: Forbidden West and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered also benefitted from the higher frame rates and 4K resolution, making the gameplay feel smoother and more responsive. In particular, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stood out with its crisp graphics, making the PS5 version look almost fuzzy by comparison.
Sony’s goal is to ensure that most of its flagship games will run at 60fps in 4K on the PS5 Pro. By the console’s launch, many titles will feature additional enhancements, such as volumetric lighting, richer environments, and more background characters. Games like Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart felt noticeably better at higher frame rates, especially on larger displays.
In addition to these improvements, the Pro supports variable refresh rates on TVs that can range from 40 to 120fps. Cerny noted that over 25% of current PS5 owners have 120fps-capable TVs, while around 10% of users have TVs that support variable refresh rates. While 8K gaming remains a niche feature, with 8K TVs still being relatively rare, it’s clear that Sony is betting on the future of high-frame-rate, high-resolution gaming.
Enhancing older games: Backward compatibility and game boost
Another significant feature of the PS5 Pro is its backward compatibility with PS4 games, a feature that fans have long appreciated in the standard PS5. With the Pro’s additional power, Sony promises a mode called PS5 Pro Game Boost, which will bring performance improvements to 8,500 backward-compatible PS4 titles. This boost will also apply to certain PS5 games, although I didn’t have the chance to test any PS4 titles during my demo.
Cerny mentioned that developers are excited about the Pro’s capabilities, with some games already offering three different PS5 Pro modes. He anticipates that as time goes on, future titles will make even better use of the hardware, with a shift away from purely focusing on resolution and more emphasis on achieving higher image quality through various techniques.
The Pro’s architecture also makes porting over PC games easier than ever before, a trend that began with the PlayStation 4 Pro. As more PlayStation games make their way to PC, the Pro will benefit from these optimizations, offering players a console experience that rivals even high-end gaming PCs.
What’s next for PlayStation?
With the PS5 Pro arriving four years after the launch of the PS5, it’s easy to speculate about the timeline for the PlayStation 6. Historically, Sony has released mid-cycle upgrades around three years after the original console’s launch, as it did with the PS4 and PS4 Pro. By that logic, the PS6 could be on the horizon in another three to four years. However, as Cerny and Nishino pointed out, gaming is evolving rapidly, and traditional console cycles may no longer apply in the same way.
The line between consoles and PCs is blurring. With game streaming becoming more prevalent, and handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck challenging what we think of as traditional consoles, Sony is also exploring new ways to deliver gaming experiences. The PlayStation Portal, released last fall, allows players to stream PS5 games remotely via Wi-Fi, although its performance can be impacted by network speeds. Nishino hinted that future iterations of the Portal could leverage Wi-Fi 7 for even better performance, opening the door to a new era of handheld gaming.
Additionally, Sony’s expanding presence in the PC gaming market further reinforces this shift. Many of the company’s flagship titles are now available on PC via platforms like Steam, and the PlayStation VR 2 headset has its own PC adapter, enabling cross-platform use. This cross-pollination of console and PC gaming will likely continue as the gaming landscape evolves.
PlayStation VR 2 and the future of immersive gaming
No conversation about the future of PlayStation would be complete without discussing virtual reality. Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 headset was met with mixed reviews upon release, with some praising its design and performance, while others were disappointed by the limited number of games available. During my visit to PlayStation HQ, I had the opportunity to test the PSVR 2 using the PS5 Pro.
While the PSVR 2 works with both the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro, the Pro’s additional horsepower does make a noticeable difference. The games I tested, such as Resident Evil Village VR and No Man’s Sky VR, felt more immersive on the Pro, with sharper visuals and smoother frame rates. Sony is committed to expanding its library of VR games, with several high-profile titles expected to launch in the coming years.
Nishino mentioned that Sony sees VR as a critical part of PlayStation’s future, and the Pro’s ability to handle more demanding VR games could give the headset a second life. However, he acknowledged that adoption has been slower than anticipated, largely due to the high price of the PSVR 2 and the ongoing challenges of creating a truly compelling VR experience.
Is the PS5 Pro worth it?
After several hours of testing the PS5 Pro and speaking with Sony’s top executives, the question remains: Is it worth upgrading?
For those who already own a PS5 and are content with its performance, the PS5 Pro might not be a must-have, especially given the price difference. The standard PS5 is still an incredible machine, capable of delivering top-tier gaming experiences. However, for gamers with high-end 4K or 8K TVs, or those who crave the best visual performance possible, the PS5 Pro offers a noticeable improvement.
The enhanced ray tracing, AI upscaling, and 60fps 4K gaming modes make a difference, especially for those who play graphically demanding games like Spider-Man 2, Gran Turismo 7, or Horizon: Forbidden West. If you’re someone who spends a lot of time gaming and wants the smoothest, sharpest experience possible, the Pro is an excellent choice.
But for casual gamers or those who are satisfied with the current PS5, the Pro’s upgrades might not feel significant enough to warrant the investment. With the PlayStation 6 still a few years away, the PS5 Pro is a tempting bridge to the future of gaming, but it’s not an essential one for everyone. As we move toward a digital-first, high-resolution gaming landscape, Sony is positioning itself as a leader in graphical fidelity — and the PS5 Pro is a strong step in that direction.