The PS5 Pro reviews are out, and a select group of media and influencers have now shared their thoughts about Sony's controversial mid-generation refresh. Regardless of PlayStation's popularity, this console has its work cut out for it. Most of its reception has focused on its price - mainly because it's the most expensive home console of all time. Still, Sony hasn't exactly won over the masses with the games released this generation, and as we head into the launch window, there's a lot to weigh up.
It took PlayStation's lead architect, Mark Cerny, just nine minutes to outline the new PlayStation 5 Pro and tell us where flagship PlayStation hardware is headed for the remainder of the generation. The PS5 Pro utilizes a more powerful GPU to deliver "enhanced gaming experiences" – faster framerates without visual compromises. That means that if you have a gaming display that can make the most of frame rates above 60fps, the PS5 Pro is perfect for you, so long as you can afford it. Luckily, all of the best PS5 accessories will work on the new model, so if you're planning to upgrade things further, you've got plenty of options. On the other hand, people are asking where on earth all of this generation's big console-selling exclusives are.
The console launches in November and pre-orders have been available since October 10 following a brief stint of exclusive stock at PlayStation's Direct store. In our PS5 Pro review, we said that "$699.99 / £699.99 MSRP is still difficult to justify, particularly to those using a standard living room setup with a 50 - 65-inch TV. Those using a large display or a monitor are going to feel the benefits more keenly - especially if you have the funds to stay at the cutting edge of tech."
PS5 Pro release date
During PlayStation's PS5 Pro Technical Presentation, it was revealed that the PS5 Pro release date will be November 7, 2024.
The above release date applies to both UK and US readers, and pre-orders (which you can read more about down below) will also launch tomorrow, on September 26.
PS5 Pro price
The PS5 Pro price will be $699.99 USD, £699.99 GBP, and €799.99 EUR. The console will include a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, a Wi-Fi 7 receiver, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. The system will come without a disk drive as standard, and a new metal footstand also isn't included in the box. Luckily, Sony has confirmed that you'll be able to purchase these separately and that Blu-rays are still readable so long as you install a drive.
Right away, you'll notice that the PS5 Pro's price is starkly different from that of a regular PS5; the PS5 originally launched at a price of $499.99 / £449.99, while the PS5 Digital Edition retailed at $399.99 / £359.99. Most of the discussion surrounding the PS5 Pro since its reveal has been about this price leap, which is understandable when game consoles are supposed to be the more affordable option when it comes to gaming hardware.
On the face of it, the sheer leap in price is frustrating, especially for anyone who was planning on upgrading to a bolder version of the PS5. Still, Sony defends its price by accounting for global inflation, which has risen in every major market PlayStations are sold in since 2020. The natural comparison points of the Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch are well below the PS5 Pro's price, but then again, the brand's PSVR 2 headset and DualSense Edge controller went to market at a higher rate than most PS5 owners would have wished. Clearly, PlayStation is enjoying its current market position and isn't concerned about losing out to the competition.
Of course, the other comparison, particularly due to the PS5 Pro's specs, is a gaming PC. Entry-level gaming PCs with equivalent innards to the PS5 Pro are selling anywhere between $800-$1,000 at the moment, so Sony has managed to keep the price of its upgrade below that. Of course, all of this doesn't matter if you're a casual gamer who wants a current-gen console for the release of GTA 6. And don't get us wrong, even the most enthusiastic hardware lovers among us hate to see a PlayStation be so prohibitively expensive.
PS5 Pro specs
As discussed by Mark Cerny in the presentation above, the system will launch with an upgraded GPU compared to the original PS5. This enhancement will, Sony says, deliver "67% more Compute Units" than the standard PS5 and offer "28% faster memory" to enable "45% faster rendering for gameplay."
For anyone who isn't up to speed on their teraflops and terminology, essentially PlayStation is trying to jump in on the upgraded graphical power of modern graphics cards. In practical terms, a bigger GPU will mean less of a tradeoff between high frame rates and how good your games will look.
Similarly to the likes of Nvidia's DLSS, the PS5 Pro will look to make gameplay smoother thanks to AI upscaling technology. 'PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution,' is a form of machine-based learning technology that will reportedly provide sharper image clarity while reducing the burden on the processing power of the system. If you're still wondering what technology like DLSS actually is, and want more background knowledge, here's our breakdown of the PS5 vs PS5 Pro specs compared for a closer look at how the systems differ.
| Specs | PS5 Slim | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen Zen 2 (8 cores, 16 threads, 3.5GHz) | AMD Ryzen Zen 2 (8 cores, 16 threads, 3.5GHz) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RDNA 2 (10.28 teraflops, ray tracing acceleration) | Unknown |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR6 at 448GB/s | 16GB GDDR6 at 448GB/s |
| Storage | 825GB SSD (5.5GB/s read) | 2TB SSD (5.5GB/s read) |
| Output | 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1 | 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, 8K |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7 |
| Dimensions | H: 9.6cm | W: 35.8cm | H: 10.4cm | W: 35.8cm |
| Price | $499.99 / £479.99 | $699.99 / £699.99 |
One thing that Mark Cerny's presentation didn't discuss was the upgraded 2TB SSD that will be found in the PS5 Pro. For context, all PS5 models can upgrade their internal storage thanks to a handy M.2 port underneath its faceplates. Still, with a 2TB drive in the machine from the word go, there will be less need to upgrade with one of the best SSDs for PS5.
If you're still wondering what technology like DLSS actually is, and want more background knowledge, here's our breakdown of the PS5 vs PS5 Pro specs compared for a closer look at how the systems differ.
One thing that Mark Cerny's presentation didn't discuss was the upgraded 2TB SSD that will be found in the PS5 Pro. For context, all PS5 models can upgrade their internal storage thanks to a handy M.2 port underneath its faceplates. Still, with a 2TB drive in the machine from the word go, there will be less need to upgrade with one of the best SSDs for PS5.
PS5 Pro pre-orders
The first batch of PS5 Pro pre-orders has gone live at PlayStation Direct stores in the UK and US. The 30th Anniversary collection went up for pre-order on the same day, and it proved much thicker to get a hold of. The initial pre-order period is being led by PlayStation's Direct Store, so unless you're reading this from a region outside of the UK or US, you won't need to check which retailers to shop at.
The PlayStation 30th Anniversary collection, which includes a classic color PS5 Pro, now seems to be sold out. There are some resellers offering these items at a much, much higher cost, but we always recommend against buying from scalpers. Besides a PS5 Pro, the wider anniversary collection includes a PlayStation Portal, a DualSense, DualSense Edge, and a regular PS5.
We're still waiting to hear what retailers will be handling the PS5 Pro pre-orders after the initial period on October 10, however, we're pretty sure that Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart will have you covered in the US. The likes of Very, Argos, and GAME will be obvious go-to retailers in the UK.
PS5 Pro enhanced games
As part of the console's reveal, Sony revealed a number of PS5 Pro enhanced games that will benefit from its hardware upgrades. At the most recent State of Play presentation, we saw a scissor reel of these titles playing in their enhanced modes. Leading the pack are Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part 2, Gran Turismo 7, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
However, the full list of PS5 Pro-enhanced games appears to be much longer. A "quick look" at games running on the upgraded console includes games like Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, along with older titles like Demon's Souls and Returnal. Below, we've compiled every game that's confirmed to be enhanced on the PS5 Pro, but expect this list to grow as more developers get on board.
- 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
- Returnal
- The Crew Motorfest
- The First Descendant
- The Last of Us 2
PS5 Pro backwards compatibility
We haven't heard any differently, so it's safe to assume that the PS5 Pro will be fully backwards compatible with the PS5 and PS4. Remember, this isn't a PlayStation 6 - it isn't a new platform, it's a generational refresh like the PS4 Pro was. That means it'll use the same user interface and play the same games, it just has beefier innards to play them with graphical enhancements.
While we wait for more PS5 Pro news, here are our lists of all the new games, and the best PS5 controllers that you can pick up this year.
