PS5 Pro: Ushering in a Ray Traced Future for Gaming?

Many current PS5 titles, such as Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Spider-Man 2, feature ray tracing. However, performance can vary significantly across games. For instance, in Elden Ring, enabling ray tracing leads to a noticeable drop in frame rates, highlighting the limitations of the current PS5 hardware in handling advanced lighting effects smoothly.

PS5 Pro Leaks and Hardware Upgrades

Leaked specifications, corroborated by sources like Moore’s Law is Dead, Insider Gaming, and The Verge, indicate that the PS5 Pro is set to be a mid-generation refresh with key performance enhancements.

• CPU: While the processor remains unchanged, a new “High CPU Frequency Mode” is expected to provide a 10% boost in performance.
• GPU: The most substantial improvement comes in the form of an upgraded GPU, designed to enhance rendering speeds and significantly improve ray tracing performance.

With developers reportedly preparing games optimized for the PS5 Pro—potentially labeled under a “Trinity Enhanced” branding—this upgraded console could deliver a much smoother ray tracing experience, reducing the frame rate penalties seen in current titles.

Ray tracing has been one of the most ambitious graphical advancements in gaming, bringing realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. However, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) struggles to maintain stable frame rates when ray tracing is enabled in many games. With the rumored PS5 Pro, Sony is expected to address these shortcomings, offering a more powerful GPU that enhances ray tracing performance and overall rendering capabilities.

Ray Tracing on the PS5: Strengths and Weaknesses

Several PS5 games already incorporate ray tracing, including Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Spider-Man 2. These titles showcase improved visual fidelity, but the performance impact varies. Some games implement ray tracing more efficiently, while others suffer from noticeable frame rate drops when the feature is enabled.

A prime example is Elden Ring, where activating ray tracing significantly reduces frames per second (FPS) on the PS5. Digital Foundry’s analysis highlighted the console’s struggle to maintain smooth gameplay while handling advanced lighting effects. This performance dip demonstrates the limitations of the PS5’s current GPU when tasked with demanding ray tracing workloads.

PS5 Pro Leaks: What to Expect

Rumors and leaks from sources like Moore’s Law is Dead, Insider Gaming, and The Verge suggest that the PS5 Pro will serve as a mid-generation hardware refresh, introducing several performance upgrades while retaining the same core architecture.

• CPU Enhancements: The PS5 Pro is expected to keep the same CPU as the base model but introduce a “High CPU Frequency Mode,” offering a 10% performance boost. This could help in handling CPU-bound tasks, improving frame pacing and load times.
• GPU Upgrades: The most significant change comes in the form of an upgraded GPU. The new hardware is designed to deliver improved rendering speeds, making ray tracing effects more viable without drastically affecting performance.

What This Means for Gaming

With a more capable GPU, the PS5 Pro could ensure that ray tracing is no longer a luxury feature that comes at the cost of frame rates. Developers are reportedly preparing games optimized for the PS5 Pro under a new “Trinity Enhanced” branding, signifying enhanced visuals and smoother performance.

If these leaks hold true, the PS5 Pro could mark a major step forward for console gaming, making ray tracing a practical standard rather than an optional trade-off.