PS5 Pro will need more than better graphics to justify its own existence
Sony is already rumoured to be planning a mid-generation console upgrade, but a PS5 Pro is hardly needed when the current model still has potential.
Despite PS5 stock only recently becoming readily available following global supply shortages, a new rumour suggests that Sony is already gearing up for a mid-generation console upgrade. The thought is that this revised version will work similarly to when the PS4 Pro launched in November 16, 2016 (just three years after the original PS4 model) to give players a new way to enjoy PlayStation games through improved graphics and performance.
The rumour comes from Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, who has a reputable track record when it comes to leaks thanks to his inside connections. In this instance, his sources have reportedly told him that the console upgrade – apparently called the PS5 Pro – is in active development and could arrive on the scene as early as late 2024. He goes on to say that this new model will “phase out” the current PS5 we know in an effort to help Sony cut down on costs and tidy up production.
Spec information on the PS5 Pro – and exactly how it will differ from the existing PS5 model – is still limited. A recently filed patent from earlier this year – discovered by Twitter user @Onion00048 – may tie in, suggesting that Sony could be looking to 'accelerate' ray tracing in its games, and the new hardware is how it will achieve that goal.
There’s very little else that this patent could be referring to other than PS6, which Henderson posits isn’t likely to release until “at least 2028”. Therefore, it makes sense that the overhauled ray tracing may be targeting this PS5 Pro model.
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Like a pro
While I don’t doubt that Sony is working on some form of improved hardware – be that a PS5 Pro or something else – I simply refuse to believe that the current model has had its day. While the generation kicked off in style in November, 2020, with platform exclusive heavy hitters like the Demon’s Souls remake and Astro’s Playroom, it's only now that we're finally starting to see certain third-party titles. Take the the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, for example, that's making the move to Unreal Engine 5 and launching exclusively for current-gen consoles.
When the PS4 Pro was first introduced, it came at a time when the base PS4 model had already left cross-generation games behind. However, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S generation barely feels like it's started, because it’s still common to see the same games released on PS4 and Xbox One. How can a PS5 Pro possibly be justified when the original PS5 model is still being held back?
Henderson’s report indicates that ray tracing will be a primary improvement in the PS5 Pro, but that alone isn’t enough to warrant players like me to make the upgrade. With the rare exception of games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal, the existing PS5 has barely had a chance to impress on a technical or graphical level.
That’s why, should these new rumours end up being true, I’m hoping Sony has more up its sleeve to justify the existence of a PS5 Pro. Ray tracing makes graphics look shinier through more realistic lighting, true, but the majority of players won’t even notice the difference.
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