PS5 Pro Hands-On: PSSR Analysis & Tech Deep Dive

The PlayStation 5 Pro Reveal

In this episode, the Digital Foundry team provides a forensic analysis of the recent PlayStation 5 Pro showcase. Leveraging high-quality ProRes footage, they deep-dive into the technical implementation of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) compared to existing upscaling solutions like DLSS and FSR 2.

Core Technical Observations

• PSSR Analysis: The team evaluates how PSSR utilizes machine learning to reconstruct images, noting that while it is effective, it exhibits different artifacts than DLSS, such as occasional shimmering and edge aliasing.
• Game-Specific Performance:
- The Last of Us Part II: A prototypical implementation of PSSR, demonstrating a stable image at 1440p/60fps that mimics native 4K quality.
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Revealed to be running performance mode settings upscaled to 4K. While superior to FSR 2, it shows some over-sharpening compared to DLSS.
- Alan Wake 2: Analysts suggest internal resolutions differ between modes, potentially pointing to the addition of ray tracing features in 30 fps scenarios.
- Gran Turismo 7: A standout for its inclusion of RT reflections during gameplay, though it comes with a noticeable resolution cut to maintain frame rate.

The Future of Consoles and Pricing

"The price of the PS5 Pro makes it where you can start considering different things that are, yes, more expensive."

The hosts engage in an extensive debate regarding the value proposition of the console in an era where mid-gen refreshes are becoming increasingly expensive. They compare the PS5 Pro to PC hardware equivalents—specifically the RTX 4070—highlighting that while the console offers a convenient, integrated ecosystem, it is moving into a premium price tier that forces users to question their priorities: convenience versus raw performance and platform flexibility.