Grand Theft Auto 6 hasn’t been released yet but it seems like Sony already has plans to take advantage of its impact on the gaming industry by launching the PlayStation 5 Pro ahead of it. The logic is simple: make the PS5 Pro the best platform for GTA 6. In theory, this would let the PS5 Pro piggyback off the sales of GTA 6, but the reality isn’t as simple.
Despite representing a significant leap forward in console gaming technology, experts caution that the PS5 Pro may not revolutionize how we enjoy the upcoming Rockstar Games title.
The PS5 Pro, rumored to be targeting a holiday 2024 release, will reportedly feature a set of advanced technologies, including “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.” But a respected resource in the gaming tech analysis field, Digital Foundry, which recently corroborated the rumors, suggests tempering expectations regarding the console and its capability to elevate game performance, particularly for CPU-heavy titles like GTA 6.
According to the company’s founder Rich Leadbetter, the PS5 Pro’s CPU, which remains fundamentally similar to the base PS5 model’s CPU but with a minor enhancement that allows a 10% performance boost, may not be sufficient to dramatically improve frame rates in CPU-intensive games.
This assessment is particularly relevant for GTA 6, expected to be a technologically demanding game. Despite the PS5 Pro boasting a significant increase in GPU power – up to 33.5 teraflops compared to the PS5’s 10.28 teraflops – the similarity in CPU specs suggests that games currently targeting 30fps are unlikely to achieve 60fps on the new console if they are CPU-limited. This means that, unless Rockstar and Sony are working together to optimize GTA 6 uniquely for the PS5 Pro (possible but unlikely), players might not experience the game at 60fps, contrary to what some might hope.
However, it’s not all dampened expectations. The PS5 Pro will have improved rendering capabilities, including enhanced ray tracing and the potential for upscaling games to 4K resolution using Sony’s proprietary upscaling technology. This could result in a visually superior gaming experience, even if frame rate improvements are minimal for certain titles. Moreover, the additional system RAM in the PS5 Pro may provide developers with more flexibility in game design and performance optimization.
Despite the proposed enhancements, the timing of the PS5 Pro’s release poses another challenge. With Sony not planning to release any major franchise games until 2025, the console might arrive ahead of games that can best showcase its capabilities. This raises questions about whether current PS5 owners will find the PS5 Pro necessary, especially if the performance improvements for upcoming blockbuster games like GTA 6 are marginal at best.
Ultimately, with Sony yet to officially confirm details, all we can do is to speculate based on the information available.
Speaking of Sony, the company may be too busy to confirm the PS5 Pro as it’s currently in the middle of a potential corporate takeover of Bungie.
