PS5 Pro Leaks: Do We Really Need a Mid-Gen Upgrade?

Sony is reportedly working on a more powerful version of its current console, widely known in rumor circles as the PS5 Pro. If you are wondering whether this mid-generation upgrade is actually necessary, you are not alone. Let us look closely at the leaked specifications, rumored pricing, and what this new hardware means for your gaming setup.

The Leaked Specs: What Project Trinity Brings to the Table

Industry insiders and leaked documents reveal that Sony is developing the PS5 Pro under the codename “Project Trinity.” The goal of this new machine is not to introduce a completely new generation of gaming. Instead, Sony wants to smooth out the rough edges of current PS5 performance.

According to reports from tech outlets like Insider Gaming and Digital Foundry, the PS5 Pro will feature some massive hardware bumps.

Faster Rendering: The GPU inside the PS5 Pro will reportedly render games 45% faster than the standard PS5.
Upgraded Teraflops: The new console is rumored to push 33.5 teraflops of computing power. While this sounds like a massive jump from the base model’s 10.28 teraflops, changes in AMD’s architecture mean the actual real-world performance bump is closer to that 45% mark.
Memory Bandwidth: System memory bandwidth is getting a 28% increase, jumping from 448 GB/s to 576 GB/s. This allows the system to load high-resolution textures much faster.
CPU Boost: Interestingly, the Pro will keep the exact same AMD Zen 2 CPU as the base model. However, it will feature a “High CPU Frequency Mode” that boosts the clock speed by 10% up to 3.85GHz.

The Magic of PSSR and Advanced Ray Tracing

If you own a standard PS5, you are likely familiar with the annoying choice between “Fidelity Mode” and “Performance Mode.” You either get beautiful 4K visuals at a choppy 30 frames per second, or you get a smooth 60 frames per second with a noticeably blurrier picture.

The PS5 Pro aims to eliminate this compromise. To do this, Sony is introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). This is a custom machine learning upscaling technology. It works very similarly to Nvidia DLSS on PC. The console will render a game at a lower resolution (like 1080p) to keep the frame rate high, and then the artificial intelligence chips will instantly upscale the image to look like native 4K.

Ray tracing is also getting a massive overhaul. Ray tracing is the technology that creates highly realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. On the standard PS5, turning on ray tracing usually tanks the game’s performance. Leaks indicate the PS5 Pro will handle ray tracing two to three times faster than the base console, with some scenarios running up to four times faster.

Rumored Pricing and Release Date

If history is any indicator, Sony likes to launch new hardware just in time for the holiday shopping season. Multiple reports point to a November 2024 release window for the PS5 Pro. This aligns perfectly with the launch of the PS4 Pro back in November 2016.

Pricing is where things get tricky. The original PS5 currently retails for $499 with a disc drive and $449 for the digital-only slim version. Because the PS5 Pro includes expensive new silicon and custom AI hardware, it will not be cheap. Analysts predict the PS5 Pro will launch at $599 for a digital edition and potentially $699 for a model with a disc drive.

Do We Actually Need a Mid-Gen Upgrade?

This brings us to the biggest question. The base PS5 is already a remarkably powerful machine. Why do we need a Pro model just four years into the console’s life cycle?

The answer comes down to software demands. Video game developers are pushing the limits of current hardware with game engines like Unreal Engine 5. Recent titles like Alan Wake 2 and Dragon’s Dogma 2 heavily tax the standard PS5, resulting in blurry visuals or unstable frame rates.

Furthermore, Sony is looking ahead to the most anticipated entertainment release of the decade: Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar Games is scheduled to launch GTA 6 in 2025. Sony desperately wants the PS5 Pro to be the absolute best place to play that game. If the PS5 Pro can run GTA 6 at a flawless 60 frames per second at 4K resolution, hardcore gamers will line up to buy the console regardless of the price tag.

Who Should Consider Buying the PS5 Pro?

Not everyone will need to rush out and buy this new hardware. You should consider the PS5 Pro if you fall into one of these specific categories:

You own a high-end television: If you have an expensive 120Hz OLED TV, like an LG C3 or a Samsung S90C, the PS5 Pro will help you get the most out of your display.
You prioritize frame rates: If you refuse to play games at 30 frames per second but hate the blurry look of current performance modes, the PSSR upscaling tech will solve your problem.
You are upgrading from a PS4: If you completely skipped the base PS5 and are finally ready to upgrade, buying the Pro model ensures your console will stay relevant for the next five to six years.

If you are a casual gamer who plays Fortnite or EA Sports FC on a standard 1080p monitor, your current PS5 is more than capable. You can safely ignore the mid-gen upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the PS5 Pro expected to be released? Based on current industry leaks, Sony is targeting a holiday 2024 release, likely in November.

Will standard PS5 games work on the PS5 Pro? Yes. The PS5 Pro shares the exact same architecture as the base PS5. Every game that works on your current PS5 will work on the Pro model. Many older games will even receive updates to run smoother and look better on the new hardware.

How much will the PS5 Pro cost? While Sony has not announced official pricing, tech analysts estimate the console will cost between $599 and $699 depending on whether it includes a physical disc drive.

What is PSSR? PSSR stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. It is a new artificial intelligence technology built into the PS5 Pro that upscales lower-resolution images into sharp 4K images. This allows games to run at faster frame rates without looking blurry.