PS5 Pro's Graphics Will Get Even Better in 2026

In Cerny we trust

I feel like once they truly tap into PSSR, we will be in for treat.

So would this make it a PRO-PS5PRO?

Sounds good. Was expecting it to be in late 2025 tho. But better late than never

@Ludacritz No

So what’s all the research and development for with PSSR.
I think the best two looking games on Pro don’t even use PSSR well one has on option to.
Last of us one and two you can pro mode with PSSR 60fps but I find some shimmering when panning in the fencing and grass. Change to performance mode 60fps no PSSR. VRR and unlocked frame rate on and by magic the shimmering on fencing and grass is gone and the picture is pure quality when panning around the best I’ve ever seen.

HFW Burning shores is run without PSSR and uses their own upscaler from about 1800p performance 60fps, Picture looks stunning and not a hint of shimmering. Voted best Pro looking game on DF.

looking forward FSR 4.

PSSR is already a fantastic upscaler, when implemented well - particularly for graphics in motion (which imo is more important than when stood still).
It doesnt have the same image break up or blurring or ghosting associated with other upscalers (again notably in motion) that are possible on console, and is easily my 1st choice.
But it isnt perfect - particularly when games run very low res images. We have already seen a few improvements since launch, and this big improvement sounds great news.

@OldGamer999
PSSR (as with FSR etc) are upscalers designed for all games / game types.

Im cant really say much about TLOU as I haven't tried them, but the general consensus I have read is that PSSR does a much better job overall in most peoples opinions.

In terms of Horizon FW - the upscaler used is designed around a very specific use case, which clearly took a lot of effort - effort that others just wouldn't attempt (or there would be no need for FSR, PSSR etc as every game would have its own bespoke upscaler). However, it probably would not even stand a chance against the low pre upscaler resolutions most games run at. Also, if I remember correctly, isnt HFW fixed pre upscaler resolution? Its very possible HFWs upscaler couldnt even work if presented with dynamic resolution.

@Oram77 In my admittedly very layman understanding of AI upscalers, I feel like PSSR can only get better and better over time. The longer it's around, the more data the AI can feed from and become better and better at upscaling. Very excited to see what PSSR looks like in a year's time.

2026 🤣

The PS6 won't be far off by then. They should've implemented this before they launched the PS5 Pro.

@Rich33
Yes Horizon upscaler was built for that game by the studio and for that engine.
id do the same so will be interesting what upscaler they use for DOOM.

Currently I would put PSSR as doing an ok job but could do better in class, as my teacher said 🤣

PSSR becoming FSR4 under the hood seems good given how well received FSR4 has been. Hopefully getting FSR4 to run on Sony's custom ML hardware can lead to helping port it to RDNA3 GPU's.

@OldGamer999
(Well designed) Bespoke upscalers are always going to be hard to beat, at least in the early days. One of the good things about upscalers like PSSR (and FSR4) is that you can keep improving them - which is one of the reasons Sony and AMD have partnered together.
Sounds like a good partnership.

That's pretty big news. Shame its a year off but exciting news anyway.

@OldGamer999 "Last of us one and two you can pro mode with PSSR 60fps but I find some shimmering when panning in the fencing and grass. Change to performance mode 60fps no PSSR. VRR and unlocked frame rate on and by magic the shimmering on fencing and grass is gone and the picture is pure quality when panning around the best I’ve ever seen."

Isn't that just the base PS5 way of playing TLoU? I prefer the Pro PSSR version, so much more detail.

This is great news for the future, as it means they seem committed to look to improve on the upscaler on your console and even change it to something different if that is the best way to get more out of games, be it on PS5 Pro or PS6. Which means the console can and will get better with age and keep up with the changing of times. We haven't really had anything in the console space like this before, have we? Where updates will actually improve fidelity in games and make games run better later in to a consoles lifespan, rather than peak at its base limitations

That's great that the Pro can be upgraded like that without needing new hardware, well it's all software but it's still impressive that the Pro has the necessary power.

This is why I bought the Pro tbh, PSSR will only keep getting better and new games should look and perform noticeably better.

@FEWGEE1 I'm sticking with my 2029/2030 PS6 release estimate. Highly doubt before then unless Sony sells an even more diminishing returns version of a PS6 than the PS5 Pro was compared to the big standard PS5

This is why people panicking over a handful of games (with the two biggest offenders coming from the same devs and game engine, btw) not playing nice with PSSR at the start was pure silliness. Software is constantly evolving and improving. Not wanting to be a beta tester is one thing, but acting like things will never improve is strange.

@Rich33
I’m all for that as PSSR and the current FSR definitely need improving, so bring on FSR 4 I say.

@TheKurgan
Each to there own I guess.

@Ravix This exactly! Exciting news, for sure.

@FEWGEE1 2026 is fine. Scalpers are going to make sure regular folks won't get their hands on a PS6 at least a year after it's release.

I love my ps5pro, but, I really dont notice a difference unless i pause and look for it. And then only in limited games like harry potter.

So any update would be good.

@EfYI Would you like me to tell you about sparcity? If so my answer may be a bit sparse 🤭

And then all of your games will be stuck with the old pssr version

So games next year might release with fsr4 tech? That sounds good!

Also, loving this joint collaboration between Sony and AMD. Joining forces might give them a shot in catching up with Nvidia’s upscaling tech, or at least closing the gap a bit

The remasters will run better I guess

I mean, that is cool - but you can't help but feel for those that bought the PS5 Pro already on the promise that everything would just work. And most of it does, but you know... And 2026 is really far away

Hope they actually implement it properly in games this time, unlike PSSR...

and they say consoles aren’t glorified PCs…

@OldGamer999
Stop throwing around a quote or two from DF comments and pretending you know what they mean. I have a a history with you showing you have no idea what you are looking at or how anything works.
You have stated several times that you 'sold your pro' - usually immediately after a single game has poorly implemented results and you simply throw your toys out of the pram. You do this on Pure Xbox and here on Push Square, continually gaslighting people and claiming you have sold your machines in response to the news of the day. How many of us need to point out your behaviour?

PSSR, like any bit of code, can and will be updated and improved as time goes by. It already provides excellent results in motion and some fantastic looking games.
There are some games developed before the pro, which have lighting models and/ or RT features such as AO that have been implemented in a way that means they struggle to work effectively with PSSR. This is no surprise as they were developed before technology was in use. In those special cases, it's often better to stick with the upscale or aliasing technique they originally developed to avoid the issues.

FSR4 is being jointly developed with Sony, and the results look exceptional, which means once it has been incorporated into PSSR we will see that technology on the pro shine. In the meantime, pretty much every game played on the pro looks better than on an OG machine. I have a pro and OG with its own TV in the same room, it's very easy for me to see and compare and the pro version always delivers superior results. The only question is whether you care enough to want one - gaming on an OG PS5 is still a fantastic experience.

Pumping money into AI upscaling technology to achieve results that should be easy on modern hardware—just because proper game polishing seems too expensive these days… Weird times from my perspective.
I was hoping AI upscaling brings modern Games on Old Hardware but it seems we need it to run modern Games on future Hardware…

Next year maybe the year I get the PRO then.

Is sparsity in relation to first party output? Sorry, I'll show myself out.

@ButterySmooth30FPS
I like your point, but I would politely argue that whilst there were a few people panicking, the bulk of people were just trying to use those few games (from questionable dev teams in some cases) as disingenuous arguments (points scoring so to say) against the Pro....

Same as all those people who cant tell the difference... whilst viewing a compressed youtube video; on a 1080 mobile phone screen; some of whom were watching in low quality because they are on mobile data.

I don't quite get why sparsity is not useful for this kind of upscaling? Surely there are areas of uniformity that can be culled prior to processing? Does anyone know of any good white papers that cover this?

I may be completely wrong, but this being announced seems a slightly underhanded way of admitting the (relatively) low sales of PS5 (yes - i know it has actually sold well), with certain gamers hanging onto their PS4s.

It just seems that (dwindling technological advances aside) they are trying to push the PS5 Pro up to as good of parity as possible, knowing that most probably a good proportion of pro users may not upgrade to 6 anytime soon, especially if prices rise further.

If that is the case, I respect that, as you are still getting something more for the large outlay over the next few years. Support and new features is only a good thing as it gives more added value. Although I can also see that perhaps the pro is now being used as an expensive open beta for PS6 and it's AI architecture in that respect.

I guess it's a good thing? I'm not a tech head by any stretch, and whilst I can see a difference in some games between base and pro, I don't think I'd upgrade to a 6 "day one" now from a pro, after the transition from 4 to 5 took so long (admittedly caused by the pandemic), and seemingly concurrent development of upscaling on both systems. Especially to people like me who is in their 40s and eyesight is getting to the point where graphical features will become less and less noticeable, as graphics upgrades are also relatively less noticeable.

Hope that makes sense... just a casual observation - I've no doubt there will be people buying a ps6 in 2-4 years time day one, but will there be enough young people with disposable income and willingness to justify a new machine again, whilst the pro may do (in some situations) just as good of a job?

I personally think it's an interesting discussion, and it could be phrased better than I have, but still...

Are they still pretending that PSSR isn't pronounced to rhyme with 'hisser?' 🤔

I still don’t want to waste money on a pro and buy a disc drive for an £100.
I’ll stick to my base PS5, never bought a PS4 Pro since they looked ugly.
Don’t see any graphic problems etc with the base PS5 anyway

@Titntin
The last of us one and two on PS5 Pro and changing the settings are my own and that is what I see on my Sony A95L. Better with PSSR not used but using performance mode, FRA rate unlocked and VRR.
I would love to have you round and show you this, then you would go, yeah look no shimmering now when panning around in the grass and in fencing.

As for HFW burning shores, simply probably the best looking game on the Pro my own experience which as you know does not use PSSR, but their upscaling I guess

It is as simple as that and that what I see when changing settings on my TV, with those to games only.

@OldGamer999 I don't need your Tv or console to see how these old games run on a pro, I'm quite capable of seeing it myself were I to want to play these titles....

Your entitled to your opinion of course, but in this case your opinion differs from Oliver Makenzie from DF, whom you seem to quote so much. Here's some quotes from his ariticle '"The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2 on PS5 Pro: the best way to play the Naughty Dog saga
PSSR upscaling works well - and the VRR unlocked frame-rate boosts are satisfying.'"
When talking about 'pro mode': "The biggest improvement is seen on foliage, which looks more natural and clean. There's a generous helping of post-process sharpening on the base machine, which appears much more subdued or possibly even absent on the Pro. It's definitely a change for the better in this case, giving grass a smooth appearance without edge ringing. The differences are especially obvious in motion, with foliage appearing clearer, with the standard PS5 having a noisy, undersampled look by comparison. The Pro delivers somewhat less sterling results on thin geometry, but it's usually similar to - or better than - the base machine. I also prefer the Pro rendition of screen-space reflections. Testing for disocclusion issues doesn't reveal any particularly bad artifacting on Pro either: PSSR tends to blur a little in areas of the frame with recently revealed detail, which is definitely preferable to typical FSR 2-style disocclusion fizzle."

and "PSSR does a pretty solid job of minimizing disocclusion issues though, which are a bit of an FSR pain point. Plus, PSSR is quite a bit sharper in motion, which is a common feature of PSSR implementations. Overall, I think FSR fares fine here - and I'm a little surprised it didn't make an appearance in the PS5 version of The Last of Us Part 2 - but I'd probably give the nod to Sony's new upscaler. "

Given I've not played either title on the pro and I know from a lot of conversations we have had that you have little knowledge of what you are looking at, I'll take Oliver's opinion over your own as I know he has a good eye, possibly even two!

None of that really matters though, you are welcome to play what you like in any way you like.

@Frmknst
"LITERALLY NOTHING LOOKS OR WILL LOOK DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A HIGHER RESOLUTION"
Then you should go back to playing 360p titles and tell us all they look just as good?
Single stupidest comment I've seen on here for a while...
If you were not so angry all the time, you could have said 'I genuinely cannot tell the difference after 1080p' and many people would have nodded their heads in agreement. Not me, but many, which is why PS5 pro is not for everyone.

@Titntin
He is more than welcome to come round as well and show me on my TV. 🤣
The only scientific thing I can think of is the screen/TV or monitor they test on is probably a lot different to a 65” A95L and maybe different processing used by the devices themselves. As I know my A95L even makes 480p TV look half good and the Switch console as well.

And if I turn certain features on the TVs own AI upscaling tech it can almost get a PS5 game looking like a Pro game to a degree.

All smoke and mirrors and artificial and AI processing, the world we live in.
That’s the only thing I can think of.

Great news for existing owners of a PS5 Pro, but for potential new buyers next year will be another year closer to PS6, so why bother? Nevertheless, all this tech bodes well for PS6 whenever it comes out.

@OldGamer999 Your thinking is wrong. Lots of sony TVs have exactly that chip - including my own! Assuming you have that TV, and I wouldn't bet any money on it - the fact you mention it in every single post you make makes you look like a child.
You simply need to know what you are looking at, and you absolutely do not at all - not just based on this conversation, but from the many many other conversations we had when I was trying to help you and you repeatedly asked for my views. This before I realised you were a liar and would say almost anything, and continually sell and then rebuy your console. Seriously dude, get help, no ones getting impressed but what you own or don't own and I know there's a lot of people who have called you out on childish lies, we can all see what you have been doing.
Play some good games, enjoy yourself and stop worrying about getting some cred from the poster of the day. Be truthful and humble and you will gain more respect from the people who count.

@Titntin
I’m simple trying to be truthful with what I see on my TV, what more can I say.
And the settings that seem to work for me at 60fps etc to create the best picture with less fizz when panning in certain aspects and object in the game.

I cannot make it more simple and clearer than that.
I tried to give a mature scientific answer about using different TVs, monitors as a potential reason.
But that seems to have by passed you biased mind.

So... another new TV in the near future...sigh...

PS5 Pro seems like such a stop-gap now with all the recent talk about next gen already.

@EfYI lol. Sparsity is a way of reducing the volume of data that you feed into the AI model. In this case areas of the image that have lots of similar data e.g. all black section. shouldn't need processing the same way that areas with a higher density of information do and so can be left out of the data sent to the model. It can be reconstructed via cheaper methods. Which is why I was puzzled as to why sparsity is not considered useful for this.

A good TV improves graphics more than a PS5 PRO.

Thanks for splashing the cash to beta test pssr before PS6. I for one, appreciate this greatly.