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The much anticipated PS5 Pro has been on many fans’ wish lists for a while, though Sony is still playing their cards close to their chest. However, with leaks, speculation, and rumors growing more intense, it seems only fair to delve in and see what information we can piece together. Let’s take a look at the possible PS5 Pro release date, leaked specs, and the latest news.
According to CNBC, the new PS5 Pro will likely drop towards the end of Q3 or Q4 of 2024, and even more has leaked recently. This speculation began after analysts spoke to the news organization regarding Sony’s plans for future releases. The PS5 Pro launch will likely be in response to the dwindling sales expectations in the current PS5. Furthermore, it would also allow Sony to get ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 – which is expected to be one of the most popular games of the decade. So let’s delve into all that we know so far about the PS5 Pro.
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PS5 Pro release date speculation
This news from CNBC released in February is the first major indicator that the PS5 Pro will be launching in 2024. It does make sense when looking back at previous Pro models, such as the PS4 Pro, which launched in November 2016 – three years after the main PS4 became widely available. Even more recently, Insider Gaming has reported that the PS5 Pro will be releasing during the holiday season in 2024. They also touched on some leaked specs, as we’ll discuss below, for the codenamed ‘Trinity’ console.
According to Serkan Toto, the CEO of Tokyo-based games consultancy Kantan Games, there is a “broad consensus in the game industry that Sony is indeed preparing a launch of a PS5 Pro in the second half of 2024” indicating that Sony needs a “great piece of hardware ready when GTA 6 hits in 2025”. While insiders such as Toto are usually trustworthy sources, Sony has yet to confirm the PS5 Pro release date or launch price.
Word of a PS5 Pro launching this year has been growing for months, even before Serkan Toto’s comments to CNBC. For example, author and game designer Jeff Grubb presented leaked information which pointed towards a September 2024 release window. This was shown on his podcast in February. Furthermore, rumors spread last summer based on a report by journalist Tom Henderson who correctly predicted both Sony’s Project Q handheld and updated PS5 Slim with a detachable disc drive. With insider gaming knowledge, these sources are often onto something when it comes predictions. Make sure to keep an eye out.
PS5 Pro specs leaked & possible features
Regarding the specifications and architecture of the PlayStation 5 Pro, The Verge has reported that the PS5 Pro is indeed real and developers are already ensuring their games are compatible with it. There is a bigger push for ray-tracing support, which Sony looks keen to showcase with this Pro ‘Trinity’ console. A leaked document points towards a few key changes:
- 45% faster GPU rendering than original PS5 (up to 33.5 Teraflops)
- Up to 3.85GHz CPU frequency, 10% more than original PS5
- Up to 4x better ray tracing in some cases
- New upscaling tech – PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling (PSSR)
- Custom machine learning architecture & AI accelerator
A much more powerful GPU is coming to facilitate that focus on ray tracing (as well as higher resolutions), with a slightly faster CPU as well. Current speculation says that it could be close to something like the Radeon RX 7800 XT. It is reported that developers will be able to use a ‘PS5 Pro Enhanced’ label on their games if they make significant improvements to cater for graphics features like ray tracing. The Pro will be able to run at faster CPU clock speeds, and system memory is being bumped up by 28% – from 448GB/s to 576GB/s bandwidth. Additionally, more system memory can be allocated to games, 1.2GB more than the original PS5.
Two prominent features are consistently emerging as both fan-requested and now likely possibilities. These being 8K resolution and ray tracing technology. These are likely the focal points for Sony’s enhancements to the PS5 hardware. Youtuber and tech scooper Moore’s Law is Dead, has predicted that the PS5 Pro will emphasize 8K compatibility, aligning with Sony’s other 8K television offerings.
Despite the current PS5’s claim of 8K capability, few games have utilized this resolution on the system, especially not the most demanding graphical titles. With AMD always improving ray tracing capabilities to their latest GPU releases, it seems only logical that Sony would integrate this feature into their upcoming consoles. This makes sense thanks to the leaked PSSR technology that brings an upscaling solution to the console (and presumably future models). We guess you’ll have to wait and see until an official announcement is given.
Why is Sony releasing the PS5 Pro?
The impact that Grand Theft Auto 6/GTA VI will have on the entire gaming industry from both a media and sales perspective is already being felt, despite the game being over a year out from its release date. However, already many manufacturers are seeing it as an unmissable opportunity and Sony is no different. The games’ initial sales should have a knock-on effect on the purchasing of consoles and general gaming equipment which can greatly change their current financial trajectory. Something which is much needed.
Sony has already revised its current PlayStation 5 sales forecast for the next fiscal year (April 2024), down from an initial 25 million consoles to just 21 million. With no major games on the horizon and popular sequels to Spider-Man and God of War ruled out for this year, Sony could use this boost.
Just rumors for now…
Much of the speculation surrounding the PS5 Pro is currently unconfirmed by Sony. Although fan anticipation will likely grow as a result of the CNBC article, be sure to take rumors and hearsay with a pinch of salt.
What are the potential differences between the PS5 and PS5 Pro?
Without official specs for the PlayStation 5 Pro, it is impossible to know for sure. However, when looking back at the PS4 Pro and its improvements from its standard edition, we can suggest some areas that will likely be targeted by the manufacturer. Essentially, the Pro model was a more powerful version of the base console. The PS4 Pro packed the same DualShock 4 controller and library of games but was capable of increased performance and targeted 4K resolution on select titles. So, for the PS5 Pro, it is suggested that an increase in performance, graphics capabilities, and power are potentially in the mix
Will you be able to pre-order PS5 Pro?
Although not currently available, in most cases, you can pre-order a Sony console directly from the Sony Playstation website up to 4 days before the scheduled release date and time. After placing your order, you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing an order reference number. The PS5 Pro will also likely be available at select retailers like Best Buy, and Amazon. However, the product is yet to even be announced so you may need to wait a little while longer.
