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Sony officially unveils PS5 Pro during PlayStation 5 technical presentation

Sony has finally revealed the video game industry's worst-kept secret: the PlayStation 5 Pro. It costs $700, comes without a disc drive, and is due to launch this November.

PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny confirmed the mid-generation refresh during a PS5 technical presentation. Cerny said Sony wants to give gamers the high frame rates they prefer with the new console. The GPU is much larger, ray tracing is improved, and there is custom hardware for machine learning (PSSR). This can increase the effect of resolution in games, Cerny added.

Sony showed off a number of games with enhanced graphics on the PS5 Pro, including Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Gran Turismo 7 and Hogwarts Legacy.

In a post on the PlayStation blog, Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment's Platform Business Group, explained the features of the PS5 Pro:

  • Improved GPU: With PS5 Pro, we're upgrading to a GPU that has 67% more compute cores than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall, this enables up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay, making the experience significantly smoother.
  • Advanced ray tracing: We've added even more powerful ray tracing, which creates more dynamic reflection and refraction, allowing rays to be cast at twice and sometimes even three times the speed of the current PS5 console.
  • AI-driven upscaling: We're also introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-powered upscaling that uses machine learning-based technology to deliver super-sharp image clarity by adding an exceptional amount of detail.

Sony also confirmed the PS5 Pro's price at $699.99 / £699.99 / €799.99 / ¥119,980 and a release date of November 7, 2024. It includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a pre-installed copy of Astro's Playroom.

Sony clarified that the PS5 Pro will be available as a console without a drive, with the option to purchase the currently available drive for the PS5 separately.

Games that take advantage of PS5 Pro features will have “PS5 Pro Enhanced” in the title. Examples of PS5 Pro Enhanced games include Alan Wake 2, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Demon's Souls, Dragon's Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, The Crew Motorfest, The First Descendant, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and more.

Games playable on the PS5 console will also be playable on the PS5 Pro, using the same user interface and online community for multiplayer gaming and network services.

Other features include PS5 Pro Game Boost, which can be applied to more than 8,500 backwards compatible PlayStation 4 games playable on PS5 Pro. Sony said PS5 Pro Game Boost can “stabilize or improve the performance of supported PS4 and PS5 games.” Enhanced Picture Quality for PS4 Games is also available to improve resolution on select PS4 games.

Accessories currently available for PS5 will also be compatible with PS5 Pro, including PlayStation VR2, PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge, Access Controller, Pulse Elite wireless headset, and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds.

The PS5 Pro is expected to be available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation at direct.playstation.com. Pre-orders begin on September 26, 2024.

Wesley is IGN's UK News Editor. You can find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].

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