How the PlayStation 5 Pro improves the graphics of current games

When the PlayStation 5 launched, fans expected a higher level of fidelity in games. The previous generation had already pushed visuals to near Pixar-like quality and many gamers expected that this could be the console where visuals would move up another notch thanks to ray-tracing.

Launch titles such as “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” did show off that technical feat. The rendering technique allows video games to look more realistic by simulating how light works on surfaces. Windows would reflect the world outside. Puddles would capture the hue of neon lights in a grimy alley. The games had these graphical touches, but gamers discovered a compromise.

They could opt for ray tracing but the frame rate would take a hit. Often, players thought the visuals were good enough and opted for smoother performance over better graphics. The fact that players had to choose was a disappointing aspect of the PS5. Fans discovered that a system they hoped would handle any game thrown at it in reality had some limits.

With the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony hopes to deliver a no-compromise console for the current generation. At an event at Sony Interactive Entertainment in San Mateo, I had a chance to play a few titles that take advantage of the new system’s power and see the differences that it made. The PS5 Pro boasts a better GPU that has 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory. It has more advanced ray tracing capabilities to better simulate light while the system also features PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR, that improves graphical detail.

I saw firsthand how these worked in games. Here’s my impression of how the PS5 Pro improved these titles:

“Dragon’s Dogma 2” — This Capcom title was one of those games that boasted beautiful graphics, but with the action-heavy elements, it was better to opt for a smoother frame rate. On the PS5 Pro, I experienced the best of both worlds, deepening the immersion.

The difference between a gorgeous game running at 30 frames per second and one at 60 frames per second is stark. After playing the game for a few minutes on the PS5 Pro and going back to the lower frame rate of the PS5, my eyes actually hurt.

“Demon’s Souls” — This is one of the better showcases of what the PlayStation 5 Pro can do. Although the game is nearly 4 years old, it’s still stunning. On the PS5 Pro, Bluepoint Games manages to surpass the graphics on the PS5 cinematic mode. I could see finer details on the armor such as the stitching and the ornate parts of the metal. To top it all off, players get this level of detail at 60 frames per second.

What’s really noticeable are the particle effects, especially when heading in to fight a boss. The black flecks swirl as players step through a doorway to fight the boss. This is the work of the PSSR. It allows the effects to pop more as they linger longer on the screen.

“Horizon Forbidden West” and “The Last of Us Part II” — Aloy’s adventure looks better with crisper cinematics and exquisite visuals. Players won’t see any new effects like ray tracing with the PS5 Pro. It just combines the best of higher resolution and smoother frame rate. The same could be said for Ellie’s follow-up journey in the “Last of Us Part II.” With the PS5 Pro, players can appreciate the finer detail in the high-fidelity mode with a high frame rate. Players should pay attention to the trees. They’ll see that the leaves are sharper and less muddy.

“Gran Turismo 7” and “F1 24” — Sony’s racing game is a flagship for what its devices can do. “Gran Turismo 7” almost makes the PlayStation VR2 worth the price of admission and that platform will see improvement when the game is run on PS5 Pro. For those who want to race on a big flat screen, the PS5 Pro offers ray tracing during an in-game race. Players can see true reflections on the surface of other vehicles. When passing by other racers, they can see other drivers rendered in their side mirrors.

It’s a ridiculous level of detail that raises the realism for the racing title. Best of all, this is all done at a smooth 60 frames per second. “Gran Turismo 7” also supports 8K monitors, but there are compromises when pushing out visuals at that resolution. It has no ray tracing but the level of sharpness in the crowd and signage increases.

With “F1 24,” Codemasters offers players a similar experience to “Gran Turismo 7.” Players will get ray tracing as they whip around the track, adding to the photo-quality visuals. What’s notable is that the developers can push out 4K at 120 frames per second if gamers have a television that supports it. Meanwhile, 8K is also supported and there’s slight ray tracing in small parts of the track, but nothing super noticeable.

“Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart” — The PS5 Pro slightly improves the visuals in this title. The PSSR again improves the particle effects. This time, it’s the confetti shown at the beginning of the game. It flies out more and it lingers longer thanks to the technology. The ray tracing is also more solid and has fewer shimmer effects, especially in distant buildings.

“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” — This is another title that shows off eye-popping ray tracing running at a high frame rate. I tried a quick swing through the neighborhood on a PS5 Pro and then did the same run on a stock PS5 running on fidelity mode, and the transition gave me a headache. It felt like my eyeballs were being scratched by jittering pixels on the screen.

Mike Fitzgerald, core technology director, said the team is working on a Fidelity Pro mode, where they try to add more ray tracing techniques and rendering tricks with the added power. Perhaps, that could make the “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” look like much argued over 2017 E3 demo.

“Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth” — When players see screenshots of the PS5 Pro and the PS5 version, it doesn’t convey the differences between the two. The best way I can describe is this: The PS5 version running on performance mode is like playing the game through smudged glasses. Everything has a cloudy film to it as though things weren’t clear. When playing on the PS5 Pro, it’s like your eyes got lasiked and you’re enjoying the world with perfect 20/20 vision. Everything is just sharper and you can appreciate the details.

“The Crew Motorfest” — This open-world racing title takes advantage of the PS5 Pro power to give players better visuals with smoother gameplay. Racing around Oahu, I could see faraway buildings rendered sharply. When it came to racing, the PSSR did wonders for the signage. It doesn’t just make particle effects better. It also makes banners and billboards sharper, increasing the immersion and perhaps giving you an edge if you want to drive without looking at the map.

Ubisoft also showed off some of the “Motorfest” expansion. I got to see some of the new locales on Maui, including waterfalls, a bamboo forest and a coastal road, and yes, those areas take advantage of the the PS5 Pro’s power.

“Hogwarts Legacy” — To be honest, I never had a chance to play this game so it was my first time seeing it, and I came away impressed with how the PS5 Pro ran the fidelity mode with ray tracing option. It showed off all the graphical touches that Avalanche Software did on the game as the developers showed off how it can use shadows and light.

IS IT FOR YOU?

Because it’s priced at $699, Sony is asking fans for a lot when it comes to upgrading to the new system. It also raises the question: Who is the console for? It’s likely aimed at holdouts who have wanted a PS5, had trouble acquiring one during the pandemic but now have the means to get it. Those who don’t have a PS5 yet will appreciate playing all the games at the best settings.

For casual gamers who already have a PS5, that’s a tougher sell. The ones who will get it at launch are the hard-core PlayStation fans or console gamers who want a no-compromise experience on a 4K screen.