Western journalists released their first reviews of the PlayStation 5 Pro, and they turned out to be mixed.
Some people praise the console, others criticize it, looking at the price. By the way, it costs $700, which is very expensive by console standards.
We collected the opinions of people who managed to play it and decided whether it was worth switching to the new version from a regular PS5.
PS5 Pro doesn’t make every game Pro
Sony’s new console can make some games look amazing. Blades of grass, pillars of rough-hewn stone, the weave of a backpack – they are reproduced with higher accuracy. This improvement is enough to make me want to sit closer to the TV or even connect the PS5 Pro to a monitor to use it as a gaming PC.
In some games, the difference is comparable to a dirty window, which is the PS5, and the PS5 Pro wipes the window clean.
I think it’s important to be clear: PS5 Pro doesn’t make every game Pro. To really see the difference, you need specially patched PS5 Pro Enhanced games.
This is not PS6. The new console still runs games developed for PS5 and PS4, uses the same AMD Zen 2 processor cores, receives the same software updates, uses the same excellent DualSense controller, and offers largely the same ports.
If you choose games that already run great on PS5, like Astro Bot, then you’ll only notice the difference in the cases. Additionally, the PS5 Pro is 1.3kg lighter than the PS5, and that’s with the optional disc drive. It’s also a little smaller and quieter.
On the left is Bloodborne on PS5, on the right is Bloodborne on PS5 Pro with the option for enhanced graphics for PS4 games
From left to right: Performance mode on PS5, Fidelity mode on PS5 and Balanced on PS5 Pro
But the PS5 Pro was clearly better at running all the games I played while sitting within 2.5 meters of a 65-inch TV.
In The Last of Us, I could see individual blades of grass instead of a sea of green. In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, I could make out the peach fuzz on Aloy’s cheeks. In Demon’s Souls, Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and The Last of Us Part II, increased clarity and smoothness across the entire image helped bring cities to life.
Even PS4 games can get a little sharper on the PS5 Pro: I ran Bloodborne, Gravity Rush 2, and Lego Dimensions, and each saw slight improvements after I enabled the new PS4 image enhancement option in the console’s settings menu.
Super powerful but very expensive
In terms of technical specifications, the PS5 Pro is the most powerful console ever released, and this is clearly visible in practice.
Some games are capable of offering 60 FPS at the same resolution as the base PS5’s Fidelity mode, which limits gameplay to 30 FPS. A great example is The Last of Us Part II Remastered, which uses the Pro’s improved processing power to scale up to 4K 60 FPS while maintaining a stable frame rate.
Another buzzword associated with the PS5 Pro is ray tracing. This is where you will notice the biggest difference. In Hogwarts Legacy, rays of light stream through stained glass windows and reflect off the floor of the famous Great Hall. In Spider-Man 2 we finally got those reflective puddles that were promised back in 2017.
However, to access ray tracing in multiple games, you’ll still have to settle for lower frame rates.
PS5 Pro has the acclaimed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology – AI-powered upscaling. According to Sony, it uses “machine learning-based technology to deliver ultra-sharp images by adding an extraordinary amount of detail.”
The resolution increase is noticeable in the vast majority of games I tested, but it’s not immediately noticeable. We’re talking about very fine detail boundaries that often require a comparison shot to truly appreciate the difference. Don’t expect the PS5 Pro to deliver magical results. This is a console designed for those who are obsessed with micro-details.
At $499 (sometimes $449 during sales), the base PS5 offers significantly better value for money than the PS5 Pro. It runs all the same games, delivers largely impressive image clarity (including 4K in some games), and can run blockbuster movies at a solid 60 frames per second.
The PS5 Slim remains my top recommendation for those looking to upgrade to a current-gen console, while the PS5 Pro now represents an improved option for gamers who want the best experience and are willing to pay more for it.
The 2025 Games will decide what happens next
If there’s one thing to complain about about the PS5, it’s this: Many of its games offer users the choice between better graphics and faster gameplay. Gamers want it both ways, but the PS5 can’t give it to them.
PS5 Pro promises better frame rates and improved graphics in supported games. It also ensures that future games will continue to look and perform great as the base PS5 slowly but surely ages.
Windows and shiny floors in Alan Wake 2 have realistic ray-traced reflections. Improved shadows and lighting add a new level of atmosphere and detail.
Some games have improved anti-aliasing thanks to the PSSR feature. Here’s a quick explanation of how it works: Most games must run at resolutions below 4K to maintain consistent frame rates, especially when effects like ray tracing are involved. PSSR can improve image quality and anti-aliasing in some games so that, ideally, you won’t even notice that it’s running at a low resolution.
Sony asks you to trust the PSSR to work. There are no options for PSSR in the settings, and there are no comparison tools built into supported games to show you the benefits of the new feature.
PSSR is also used to improve the visuals of PS4 games played via backwards compatibility. But it doesn’t work miracles, so you won’t be able to increase FPS with it.
Developers are taking advantage of PSSR and increased GPU power in different ways. Dragon’s Dogma 2 introduced a 60 FPS mode, and in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, ray tracing is now available at 60 FPS, while in PS5 it is limited to 30 FPS. The Demon’s Souls remake features more particle effects. In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, light reflects better from surrounding objects.
Sony has named 55 games that will support the PlayStation 5 Pro at launch
I haven’t tested every one of the 50 games optimized for the PS5 Pro. But what I tried produced a mixed bag of improvements. I doubt I would be happy with them if I spent $699.
However, there are plenty of games coming out in 2025 that will put the PS5 Pro’s more powerful specs to the test. Of course, we’re talking about Grand Theft Auto 6 first and foremost. Assuming Rockstar Games takes full advantage of the PS5 Pro, the launch of GTA 6 could be a major event for the console.
Source: www.iphones.ru
