Rumors circulating about the PS5 Pro seem to confirm Sony PlayStation’s plans, four years after the release of the first PS5. This mid-gen console could well put an end to the compromises of the current PS5 Slim. This new machine is said to offer up to 45% more power, enabling games to be played in 4K at 60 fps, with ray tracing and without cutting back on graphics quality. Please note that this information is to be taken with a grain of salt, as it is based on leaked documents.
Where do the PS5 Pro rumors come from?
Last year, the often well-informed Tom Henderson hinted at Sony’s plans for a PlayStation 5 Pro. On March 15, 2024, leaker Moore’s Law Is Dead returned to the fray with more information in a YouTube video. The same day, Tom Henderson confirmed the leak of documents surrounding this PS5 Pro on his Insider Gaming site.
According to them, a more powerful version of the PlayStation 5 could arrive on the market by the end of 2024. AMD’s SoC (System on Chip), christened Trinity, would still be an integrated on the motherboard containing the main GPU and CPU components. The announced specifications suggest an uncompromising console, capable of offering games in 4K at 60 fps with ray tracing enabled. What’s more, thanks to the new proprietary upscaling system, it could be possible to play in 4K at 120 fps on certain titles, by activating the performance mode. The leaks also mention a definition that could reach 8K.
PS5 Pro: leaked specs
Among the information revealed, the raw power of the PS5 Pro could reach 33.5 TFlops, compared to the 10.3 TFlops of the current PS5 Slim. As far as ray tracing is concerned, the new SoC is said to increase overall illumination performance in games threefold. A significant gain that would enable us to play in 4K at 60 fps, while taking advantage of these enhanced lighting effects and without the slightest compromise in graphics, as is currently the case.
As for the clock frequency, leakers are talking about a boost of 3.85 GHz, bringing a performance gain of around 10% compared with the CPU of the classic PS5. SSD bandwidth, meanwhile, is said to increase from 448 GB/s to 576 GB/s, speeding up loading times on the PS5 Pro. A choice that would further optimize the most ambitious games, especially open worlds that require regular access to storage.
We also learn of the existence of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution), an upscaling technology developed by PlayStation. This is equivalent to Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and AMD’s FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution). This upscaling solution uses Deep Learning to improve video game performance by increasing image size from lower resolutions. In practice, this means more frames per second, while maintaining graphic quality.
According to the same sources, the PlayStation 5 Pro should still be offered in a standard version with disc drive and a digital version, like the current PS5 Slim. The optional Blu-ray player will enable the console to remain competitive in its digital version. The Japanese manufacturer does not seem quite ready to abandon the physical format, as seems to be the case with Xbox.
A price to match the performance?
When the PS4 Pro was released in 2016, a more compact model of the console was also unveiled. This PS4 Slim was under the €300 mark, but the context was more favorable. Indeed, in 2024, the price of electronics continues to rise, prompting PlayStation to increase the price of the PS5 Slim standard edition from €500 to €549.99 and the PS5 Slim digital edition from €400 to €449.99, in August 2022.
The PS5 Slim has been available since November 2023, and the PS5 Pro will complete the range with a premium model. It seems hard to imagine PlayStation following the previous-generation strategy again, which suggests a price tag probably in excess of €549.99 for the PS5 Pro. However, if its specifications prove accurate, a higher price would be justified.
When will the PS5 Pro be released?
Since the first rumors about the PS5 Pro emerged, the end of 2024 has often been mentioned. According to the latest leaks, PlayStation is still aiming for a fall 2024 release window. However, the lack of exclusive games during this period indicates that this new console could arrive in 2025 instead. We can also make the connection with a Tweet from Alex Smith (ex-Bend Studios) who mentioned a deal with Rockstar to offer a PlayStation 5 Pro pack, accompanied by a copy of GTA VI.
A strategic marketing choice that would make a lot of sense. The next Grand Theft Auto opus could be a great technological showcase for a console like the PS5 Pro. A joint release and, why not, a temporary exclusivity would be enough to sell a good number of PlayStation 5 Pro units. Xbox may not allow this to happen, like in 2008 when Microsoft paid $75 million to make GTA IV non-exclusive to the PS3, according to an interview with Michael Pachter.
An open secret for many months, the arrival of the PS5 Pro seems to be fast approaching. However, PlayStation has yet to make an official announcement, so all this information should be taken with caution. But we can’t wait to see what Sony has in store for the future of PlayStation!
