When the PlayStation 5 first came out in November 2020, Sony gave gamers plenty of reasons to buy it. Beyond being a brand-new console, it came with exciting games right from launch. There were plenty of popular third-party games, but the biggest appeal was the exclusive, first-party games that really showed off the PS5’s power.
Fast forward to 2024, and games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PS5 are still visually stunning. The thrill of swinging through a lively, detailed city as Miles, diving and soaring between tall buildings, is as exciting as ever. Back in 2020, the fast loading times and smooth gameplay of these games set the PS5 apart. For many, Demon’s Souls, remade by Bluepoint Games, is still one of the best-looking games on the PS5, with its impressive lighting and detailed visuals.
These early games showed that the PS5 was worth its price and hinted at an exciting future for PlayStation gaming. They made it clear that the PS5 represented a big step forward.
Now, Sony has released the PlayStation 5 Pro. It’s a more powerful version of the PS5 aimed at a smaller, more specific audience. With a higher price tag, it needs to justify its value just as the original PS5 did, especially since there aren’t any new exclusive games just for the Pro.
The PS5 Pro looks much like the regular PS5. However, without a disc drive, it’s a digital-only console, which may be disappointing for those who still use game discs or Blu-ray movies. It has a slimmer design but requires a new stand, which is an extra cost if you don’t already have the one for the PS5 Slim.
The PS5 Pro does offer three new features that promise better graphics and performance. It has an upgraded GPU, stronger ray tracing for more realistic lighting, and AI-driven upscaling to make images sharper. These improvements bring console gaming a little closer to the high quality of PC gaming.
For this review, I tested the PS5 Pro’s performance on an LG 55″ OLED TV, which supports 4K and 120hz refresh rates. I wanted to answer a simple question: should an average gamer upgrade to the PS5 Pro? The answer is a bit complicated.
Design and Style
The PS5 Pro’s design doesn’t change much from the original PS5, but it’s slimmer and has more vents to help with cooling. The added vents give it a cooler look, similar to putting racing stripes on a car. But if you own a physical collection of PS4 or PS5 games, you’ll need to buy a disc drive separately to use them, which adds to the already high $700 price tag.
Performance in Games
Games like Demon’s Souls look noticeably better on the PS5 Pro. With the PS5 Pro’s mode enabled, details like fog, flames, and lighting effects are sharper, adding depth to the game. Although these improvements are subtle, they make the game look richer.
Alan Wake 2 uses the PS5 Pro’s improved ray tracing, enhancing the game’s atmosphere. The lighting effects are more realistic, which adds to the game’s spooky mood. However, in “Quality” mode, the game runs at 30 frames per second (fps), which can make it feel slower. Fortunately, the PS5 Pro also offers a “Performance” mode that balances good visuals with smoother gameplay.
For Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the PS5 Pro allows players to tweak graphics settings, much like a PC game. The game looks fantastic in “Fidelity Pro” mode with ray tracing and higher resolution, but I found the “Performance Pro” mode, which runs at 60 fps, to be the best mix of quality and smooth gameplay.
Final Thoughts
The PS5 Pro’s enhancements in graphics and performance are real, but they’re not always obvious. Many of the improvements, like better lighting and higher frame rates, may be hard for the average gamer to notice without close inspection.