Specifications for the yet-to-be-announced PlayStation 5 Pro have surfaced online, shedding light on the capabilities of the console purportedly slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Initial reports on the specs surfaced via the YouTube channel Moore’s Law Is Dead, later corroborated by Insider Gaming, with subsequent elaboration provided in an article by Insider Gaming.
As per sources, the leaked specifications originate from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Developer Network and although Sony has refrained from offering any official comments on the matter, it has reportedly opened up an internal investigation, thereby indirectly confirming that the leak did in fact happen.
Key enhancements include an upgraded CPU, rumored to mirror the standard PS5’s CPU but featuring a ‘High CPU Frequency Mode’ boasting a 10% increase to 3.85GHz, and an advanced GPU facilitating swifter rendering and superior ray tracing capabilities, with a power of 33.5 teraflops compared to the standard PS5’s 10.28 teraflops. A comparison between the PS5 and PS5 Pro would indicate approximately 10.28 vs 16 to 17 teraflops.
The PS5 Pro reportedly introduces several notable features, including PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling) for upscaling/antialiasing, a custom machine learning architecture, and an AI accelerator. Additionally, the PS5 Pro is said to feature a detachable disc drive and 1TB of storage capacity.
Analysts have hinted at Sony’s potential release of the PS5 Pro later in 2024, suggesting it as a strategic move to generate interest in the PS5 ahead of the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025. The success of GTA 6 is viewed as crucial, not only for Rockstar and Take-Two but also for Sony.
Drawing on past precedents, Sony has a history of introducing Pro versions of its consoles. For instance, the PS4 Pro was launched in November 2016, three years after the debut of the PS4. If the PS5 Pro indeed launches this November, it would mark four years since the release of the PS5 in November 2020.
Sony has revised its sales forecast for the PS5 for the current financial year, lowering it from the initial target of 25 million consoles to 21 million, despite observing a year-on-year increase in PS5 sales for the holiday quarter of 2023, rising from 7.1 million to 8.2 million.
Furthermore, Sony has announced its decision to refrain from releasing major installments of existing PlayStation franchises before April 2025, effectively ruling out significant sequels in franchises like God of War and Spider-Man for the foreseeable future.
Last month, Sony unveiled a significant restructuring initiative, resulting in over 900 layoffs within its gaming business, with the closure of Sony’s London studio among the notable changes.
