Good news for avid gamers who hated the PlayStation 5 design—even after being updated—there is a new and more powerful PlayStation 5, called PlayStation 5 Pro. The bad news is it looks like the original PS5 you hated and also it has rolled back to the original PS5 dimensions.
As a consolation, the width of the new PS5 Pro is the same as the updated PS5 model. Sony Interactive Entertainment said the bump in size is to “accommodate higher performance specs” which this hardware claims to be the company’s “most advanced and innovative console hardware to date.”
The new PS5 Pro will run higher fidelity graphics with smoother frame rates at 60FPS with an upgraded GPU that touts 67% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory. This affords it up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay. The new rig also boasts advanced ray tracing that provides more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. SIC said this allows the rays to be cast a double, and even triple, the speeds of the current PS5 console.
Finally, there is, you guessed it, AI. The new PS5 Pro leverages AI-driven upscaling dubbed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (fancy!) which uses a machine learning-based technology to provide super sharp image clarity by adding an extraordinary amount of detail.
The new PS5 Pro offers enhancements like Game Boost, improving performance for over 8,500 PS4 games playable on the system, alongside enhanced image quality for select PS4 titles. It supports Wi-Fi 7, VRR, and 8K gaming (!). Many games will receive free updates to take advantage of the new features, identifiable with a PS5 Pro Enhanced label.
Titles from PlayStation Studios and partners include Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and more. The PS5 Pro shares the same dimensions as the PS5 and is compatible with existing PS5 accessories. It includes a 2 TB SSD, DualSense controller, and a pre-installed copy of Astro’s Playroom.
Aesthetically, the familiar white shells are not interjected by black lines—presumably for ventilation. Beyond that, it is almost identical to the previous PS5s. It’d be non-distinguishable until you start measuring it or have two machines side by side.
The console is priced at US$699.99 and launches on November 7, 2024, with preorders starting September 26, 2024. Check out the PS5 Pro reveal trailer and the technical presentation by PS5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny after these images.
Images: Sony Interactive Entertainment.