Sony will release a more powerful version of the PlayStation 5 console in November, the PlayStation 5 Pro.
The new hardware is designed to make game graphics pop and gameplay run smoother, with faster, more responsive on-screen action. In short, gaming on a big 4K TV looks better than ever.
Additionally, the device has more than twice the storage space of the standard PS5, providing ample room for games and apps.
Unfortunately, all this cutting-edge tech won't come cheap. When it releases, the PS5 Pro will be the most expensive console you can buy, beating out the high-end Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch OLED, and Steam Deck with ease.
Here's everything you need to know about Sony's new games console, including price, release date and compatible games.
What is the PS5 Pro?
The new PS5 Pro console is a graphics powerhouse in a similar form factor to the original PS5 (not the slim version). Featuring a beefier GPU, the new hardware delivers three key upgrades: two to three times the ray tracing power for more realistic lighting in games; automatic AI-assisted game upscaling to reach 4K visuals; and a new Pro Mode for games that delivers 4K resolution at a buttery-smooth 60 fps (or frames per second).
Notably, the new console doesn't come with an optical drive, meaning you'll only be able to play digital games on it out of the box. Instead, there's a massive 2TB solid-state drive (SSD), along with the usual support for expanded storage. WiFi 7 should also allow you to download games even faster, as long as you have a compatible router.
Of course, you can also purchase a separate disc drive if you want to play physical games, including games you've already purchased (read more about this below).
The PS5 Pro is intended to be sold alongside the base PS5 rather than replacing it. As such, new games will still be playable on the older hardware, and vice versa for older titles on the new console. It also isn't a next-gen console in the vein of the upcoming PS6, but a mid-cycle upgrade like the PS4 Pro before it. As such, it mimics the PS5's design (sans some black grooves down the middle) and has the same CPU and SSD speeds.
PS5 Pro Price
The PS5 Pro costs £699.99 in the UK ($699.99 in the US). For comparison, the PS5 Slim console with disc drive costs £479.99, while the latest Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage costs £549.99.
The extras, including the attachable drive bay and a vertical stand to keep it upright, will set you back an extra £100 and £30 respectively. That brings the total cost to a wallet-crushing £830 - but you don't need those add-ons to use the PS5 Pro.
Ultimately, the high price of the new console will make it unaffordable for many consumers. For casual gamers who aren't too critical of graphics and frame rates, it may not be worth it.
To put that into perspective, the PS4 Pro, which launched in 2016 for £350, would cost around £465 today, adjusted for inflation. Of course, the individual parts used in the PS5 Pro are far better and cost far more to produce than its predecessor.
Sony and Microsoft have also said they sell their consoles at a loss, often subsidizing them in hopes of recouping their investment through sales of games, accessories and subscriptions like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass.
PS5 Pro Release Date
The PlayStation 5 Pro will initially be available for pre-order directly through PlayStation on September 26, before hitting other retailers on October 10. The official release date is November 7.
PS5 Pro Specifications
Before we dive deeper into the features of the new console, here's a quick rundown of what you get by default:
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Larger GPU (67 percent more compute units and 28 percent faster memory)
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Advanced ray tracing (two to three times faster than PS5)
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AI-driven upscaling (known as PSSR)
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2TB SSD for storage
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WiFi 7 support
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PS VR Support
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DualSense controller
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Ports: USB-C (x2, front), USB-A (x2, rear), HDMI 2.1 output, Ethernet.
PS5 Pro in detail
Most of the PS5 Pro's benefits will be made possible by its larger GPU, which is believed to be built on the same AMD RDNA 2 architecture as the original PS5, but with considerably more graphical horsepower. We're talking 67 percent more compute cores, 28 percent faster RAM (or memory), and 45 percent faster rendering.
Of the three big improvements Sony is touting, the first is a lot more ray tracing. This is an advanced graphics technique that mimics the behavior of real-world light, making games look more realistic.
Then there's an AI-assisted upscaling mode called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (or PSSR), which uses machine learning to upscale lower-resolution images up to 4K (or even 8K). The PS5 promised the latter as well, but Sony's successor could actually do a better job of delivering the crystal-clear visuals. Of course, you'll only be able to take advantage of this if you have an 8K TV, which are ridiculously expensive to begin with. Initially, the only game teased to support 8K resolution is Sony's beloved racer, Gran Turismo 7.
Finally, there's a Pro Game Boost mode, which will also improve the image quality of over 8,500 backwards-compatible PS4 games and PS5 titles. Sony also promises to use tech from the PS5 Pro to improve PSVR and PSVR 2 games in the future.
PS5 Pro Compatible Games
A console is only as good as the games it offers. That's why the PS5 Pro will be flanked by around 40 to 50 enhanced games when it launches in November. These will be patched with free software updates in the vein of PS4 games that have been updated for the PS5.
Sony, in turn, named the following PS5 Pro games from its internal studios and third-party developers:
There were also rumors that Hideo Kojima's next masterpiece, Death Stranding 2, would be improved for the PS5 Pro. GTA 6 would also be a no-brainer, and Sony is expected to use the highly anticipated game as a marketing tool for the PS5 Pro.
Additionally, Mark Cerny, Sony's chief architect for the PS5, told Cnet that the PS5 Pro will make it easier to port PC games, so expect to see more of those types of games in the future.
