Sep 10

Sony Officially Unveils PS5 Pro: Here's Everything You Need to Know

The long-awaited PlayStation 5 Pro has finally been revealed by Sony, putting an end to months of speculation and leaks. During a special technical presentation, Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PS5, introduced the PS5 Pro as a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The console is set to launch on November 7th, 2024, priced at $699.99 (approximately R12,550.00). Here's everything we know so far:

Key Upgrades: More Power, Better Graphics, and AI-Driven Upscaling

The PS5 Pro boasts three major enhancements over the original PS5: a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing, and custom AI-driven upscaling. According to Cerny, these improvements are designed to provide gamers with a more immersive and visually stunning experience.

Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro's GPU features 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory than the original PS5, resulting in up to 45% faster rendering. This upgrade ensures smoother gameplay and improved frame rates, particularly in graphically demanding games.
Advanced Ray Tracing: Sony has doubled down on ray tracing, enhancing the console’s ability to reflect and refract light in real-time. Cerny mentioned that the PS5 Pro can cast rays at double, or even triple, the speed of the original PS5, offering more realistic and dynamic lighting effects in games.
AI-Driven Upscaling: The PS5 Pro introduces PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, a new AI-driven upscaling technology. This feature uses machine learning to enhance image clarity and add extraordinary detail to in-game visuals, making the overall experience more lifelike.

Design and Features

The PS5 Pro shares a similar design to the recently leaked PS5 Slim, featuring three distinctive stripes along its sides. Unlike its predecessor, the PS5 Pro does not come with a disc drive, but users can purchase a 4K Blu-ray disc drive separately. Optional console covers are also available for those looking to customise their setup.

The PS5 Pro includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. The console also supports the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7, in regions where it’s available.

Game Compatibility and Enhanced Features

Sony has confirmed that all games playable on the PS5 will be compatible with the PS5 Pro. Additionally, games that take advantage of the new console's enhanced capabilities will carry a “PS5 Pro Enhanced” designation. Titles such as Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Demon’s Souls, Gran Turismo 7, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are just a few examples of games that will offer enhanced performance on the PS5 Pro.

The PS5 Pro also introduces PS5 Pro Game Boost, a feature that may stabilise or improve the performance of more than 8,500 backward-compatible PlayStation 4 games. Enhanced Image Quality for select PS4 games will further improve their resolution when played on the PS5 Pro.

Accessories and Pre-Order Details

Current PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation VR2, PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge, Access controller, and Pulse Elite wireless headset, will be fully compatible with the PS5 Pro. Sony has also announced that pre-orders for the PS5 Pro will begin on September 26, 2024, with the console available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation at direct.playstation.com.

The PS5 Pro is set to redefine console gaming with its powerful hardware upgrades and advanced features. Whether you’re looking for improved graphics, faster rendering, or a more immersive gaming experience, the PS5 Pro promises to deliver. Mark your calendar for November 7th and prepare to experience the next generation of gaming with Sony’s most powerful console yet.