Sony PS5 Pro Specifications, Features, Launch Timeline Tipped: Could Get Big GPU Upgrade

Sony is gearing up to introduce a more powerful version of its PlayStation 5 console, potentially hitting the market by the end of this year. Recent leaks have brought to light the specifications of what is being called the PS5 Pro, with The Verge providing a comprehensive breakdown of its capabilities.

Notably, Sony is pushing developers to make their games compatible with the upcoming PS5 Pro console, emphasizing advancements in ray tracing technology, which suggests an emphasis on graphical advancements.

Emphasis on GPU Performance

The new model, codenamed Trinity, is expected to feature a GPU that is approximately 45% faster than the PlayStation 5, alongside a slightly faster CPU. This enhancement aims to significantly improve the rendering of games, allowing for better resolution, frame rates, and ray tracing effects.

Sony's initiative to label games that offer considerable improvements on the PS5 Pro as "Trinity Enhanced" highlights their commitment to leveraging these graphical upgrades.

According to documents obtained by The Verge, the PS5 Pro's GPU will not only be larger but will also utilize faster system memory, aiding the enhancement of ray tracing in games. Furthermore, the console will employ a more robust ray tracing architecture, tripling the speed compared to the standard PS5.

Despite these advancements, Sony plans to continue selling the original PS5 alongside the new Pro model, ensuring game developers support both consoles through a single package or updates for higher performance on existing titles.

Major Improvements Coming to the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro

Developers can also request test kits now, with Sony mandating that all games submitted for certification in August must be compatible with the PS5 Pro. Insider Gaming has suggested a release window for the console during the 2024 holiday period.

While focusing on GPU improvements, the PS5 Pro will maintain the same CPU as the standard PS5 but introduce a new mode for higher clock speeds. This high CPU frequency mode aims to boost the CPU's performance by around 10% over the standard PS5.

Additionally, Sony plans to enhance the system memory for the PS5 Pro, increasing its speed by 28% to 576GB/s. This upgrade not only boosts memory efficiency but also allows developers greater access to system memory for games.

Sony PlayStation 5 Pro PSSR Support

The PS5 Pro will support Sony's PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), a custom upscaling solution designed to enhance frame rates and image quality. According to Sony, the input is similar to DLSS or FSR, and the solution includes full HDR support.

This technology uses around 250MB of memory, which the PS5 Pro's memory allocations accommodate. Sony reports a latency of approximately 2ms when upscaling a 1080p image to 4K and is working on supporting resolutions up to 8K and further reducing latency in future updates.

The boost in memory speed and capacity is beneficial for Sony's new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) support, which serves as Sony's alternative to Nvidia's DLSS or AMD's FSR for enhancing frame rates and image quality on PlayStation. Sony has also developed a "custom architecture for machine learning" on the PS5 Pro, offering 300TOPS of 8-bit computation power.

An Upgraded Gaming Experience

As the launch window approaches, anticipation grows for the enhanced library of games and new first-party titles optimized for the PS5 Pro. With these improvements, the PS5 Pro promises to offer an upgraded gaming experience, supporting more demanding games with enhanced graphics and performance.

Sony's strategy mirrors that of the PS4 lifecycle, with the introduction of a Slim model followed by a Pro version, suggesting a continued investment in providing gamers with high-quality gaming experiences.