A recent leak has provided new details about Sony’s upcoming PS5 Pro, suggesting the name and design for the much-anticipated console. PlayStation insider and leaker billbil-kun revealed that the mid-generation upgrade will indeed be named the “PS5 Pro.” A sketch accompanying the leak gives a glimpse of the console’s potential design, which is based on what is believed to be the final packaging.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Design and Features
The PS5 Pro’s design appears to mirror the recently announced PS5 Slim, maintaining a white color and featuring two USB-C ports and a power button on the front. However, there are some noticeable differences: three black stripes run across the middle of the PS5 Pro, a feature not present on the base models. The leaked image also suggests that the PS5 Pro is slightly thicker than the PS5 Slim. Interestingly, the PS5 Pro model shown does not include a disc drive, raising questions about whether Sony will offer a version with a built-in disc drive. The leak does not mention a price, and the console seems to continue using the standard DualSense controller.
Billbil-kun expects Sony to officially announce the PS5 Pro by the first half of September 2024, with a possible release in November. This timing would align with past trends, such as the PS4 Pro launch in November 2016, three years after the original PS4. If this pattern holds, the PS5 Pro would debut about four years after the PS5, which launched in November 2020.
Technical Improvements
The PS5 Pro is said to bring several hardware enhancements. Rumored specs indicate a “High CPU Frequency Mode,” offering a 10% increase to 3.85GHz, compared to the standard PS5’s CPU. The GPU will reportedly support faster rendering and improved ray tracing capabilities, boasting 33.5 teraflops, compared to the PS5’s 10.28 teraflops. When comparing the two, the PS5 Pro shows an increase from 10.28 teraflops to around 16 to 17 teraflops.
Other notable features include an advanced upscaling and anti-aliasing solution called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), custom machine learning architecture, and an AI accelerator. The PS5 Pro will also feature a detachable disc drive and come with 1TB of storage space. This enhanced version aims to reignite interest in the PlayStation 5 ahead of the expected release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025, a launch with high stakes for both Rockstar and Take-Two.
Market Context
The release of the PS5 Pro comes at a critical time for Sony. The company acknowledged that PS5 sales peaked in May 2024, entering the “latter stage of its life cycle.” A mid-cycle refresh could be Sony’s strategy to maintain consumer interest and extend the life of the current console generation. Historically, Sony has launched “Pro” versions of its consoles mid-generation, and this release would continue that trend.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Sony’s upcoming PS5 Pro promises enhanced features and performance, potentially rejuvenating the PlayStation market as it faces declining sales. With an announcement expected in September and a release possibly in November, this console could play a vital role in Sony’s strategy to sustain interest until the launch of high-profile titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. As anticipation builds, gamers and industry analysts are eager to see if the PS5 Pro can live up to the hype and deliver a substantial upgrade to the current gaming experience.