Sony released the PS5 in 2020 and 3 years after its launch, when the console was finally available to all as the stock situation was resolved, we got our first PS5 refresh in the form of a new PS5 with a sleeker design, smaller form factor and more base storage, but with that said it is clear that this is not the mid-generation refresh that many gamers have been hoping and waiting for.
The refresh may have changed the design, but there is no significant increase in performance, and if we look at the PlayStation 4, it also got its “Pro” refresh in 2016 (we’re talking a 3-year cycle here). It’s safe to assume that it’s time for Sony to release its raytracing monster with updated and more powerful specs, a slightly different design and new features.
In this blog, we’ve rounded up all the leaks and rumors about the PS5 Pro, including some information about the new SoC, the improved specs, the new design and even some information about the development of the Sony PS5 Pro and the release date. If you’re curious about the latest news on the Sony PS5 Pro or are thinking about getting a console but are waiting to play GTA VI at the maximum frame rate possible, you’ve come to the right place.
Sony PS5 Pro: Rumored Specifications
New information about the development of the new Sony PlayStation 5 Pro has recently emerged. Most of the console’s specifications were published by an X-user named Kepler, and according to well-known leaker, Tom Henderson.
Yeah I was actually wrong about that 😅 PS5 Pro uses 60 out of 64 CUs (Viola full config is 2 SE x 2 SA x 8 WGP).
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) December 11, 2023
Sony expects that all of the next-gen console’s specs could leak this month as the tech giant prepares to distribute Sony PS 5 Pro development kits.
The codename for the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro could be Project Trinity and focuses on improving three things: faster storage, better ray-tracing performance and a new scaling-up technology.
The codename for the PlayStation 5 Pro’s SoC is Viola and it will be manufactured on TSMC’s NP4 node. It is a customized APU equipped with Zen 2 cores, which could mean that the microarchitecture remains the same as the SoC of the current PS5. With the new APU, the CPU can clock at 4.4 GHz and AMD has also improved the console’s graphics capabilities by using the RDNA 3 architecture.
We also have details on the GPU configuration of the Sony PS5 Pro. The new SoC, Voila, will use 60 of 64 CUs. The GPU has 3840 stream processors, which is the same as the current mid-range AMD RX 7800XT GPU offering, which is a Navi 32 GPU. We might also get dedicated ray tracing hardware instead of shaders.
The Sony PS5 Pro will also get 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit memory bus, which means a bandwidth of 576 GB/s. According to rumors, the GPU will be clocked at 2.0 GHz, which results in a computing power of 28.67 TFLOPs (Single Precision).
According to a rumor from the ResetEra forums, AMD could also integrate the XDNA 2 into the Viola SoC for the PS5 Pro, but there is no confirmation of this yet.
Sony PS5 Pro: Updated Design
While there aren’t many rumors suggesting that the PS5 Pro is getting a new design update, it’s safe to assume that Sony’s next-gen console could become even more powerful with updated specs. With the new PS5 upgrade, we got a much slimmer design, but the internals remained the same, apart from the memory expansion. Sony knew the needs of its customers and decided to make the PS5 slimmer and smaller, just like the PS4. It is likely that the PS5 Pro could get the same chassis as the old PS5, but with even better and faster internals.
One thing we can expect though. Just like the new PS5 Slim, there could be an option for a detachable Blue Ray player, which could mean that the PS5 Pro is now just a digital version with attachable accessories, which could increase the overall cost of owning the console for gamers with a large game collection. On the other hand, it simplifies distribution for Sony and gamers have the advantage of being able to change their mind later and buy an add-on device instead of a new console if they want to play their older games or even newer titles.
Sony PS5 Pro: New Features
Since this is the Pro variant of the PlayStation, we can assume that the new PS5 Pro will get some Pro features. To find out more about what Sony could offer us with the PlayStation 5 Pro, let’s take a look back in history and see what the PS4 Pro brought us with the Pro designation.
The answer is 4K gaming. The PS4 Pro is the first console from Sony that allows us to play games in native 4K resolution, just like the current PS5. Does this mean that the PS5 Pro will give us the ability to play games in 8K? That’s unlikely, although we could see some Sony-exclusive titles that can play in 8K.
The PlayStation 5 Pro could come with some exclusive features like AI-upscaling of games and proper hardware for accelerated ray tracing. All of this could be easily possible with the new Viola SoC and improved GPU.
We could also hope to get the Pro version of the Dual Sense Edge Controller with the Sony PS5 Pro, but this is highly unlikely as the Dual Sense Edge Controller is a premium accessory for the PS5 that is only sold separately.
The Sony PSVR2 could also utilize the next-gen specs of the PlayStation 5 Pro to provide a better and more immersive VR experience, as we don’t think Sony will be launching a new PSVR anytime soon.
PS5 Pro: Release Date & Pricing Rumors
Last year there were leaks suggesting that the PlayStation 5 Pro would be released in the last quarter of 2023, but we all know that Sony gave us a much slimmer PS5 with the same innards instead.
Following the leak, we now have new information about the release of the Sony PS5 Pro. The new PlayStation console could be released in September 2024, as confirmed by Jeff Grub in his podcast. Another piece of information comes from Tom Henderson, who has already hinted that the PlayStation 5 Pro will be released in November 2024 and could even share the release window with the Nintendo Switch 2.
To understand the pricing structure of the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro, let’s take a look at the pricing structure of the PS4 Pro.
The PS4 Pro was released in 2016 with a starting price of $399 USD and the current PS5 surpasses that price as it launched with a starting price of $499 USD. With improved specs, support for high frame rate 4K gaming and even 8K gaming in some titles if Sony wants to go that route, and dedicated hardware for ray tracing, it’s reasonable to assume that Sony could launch the PS5 Pro at a starting price of $599.
What makes it very likely is the fact that we got the PSVR2 at a much higher price of $549. So it’s reasonable to assume that Sony can maintain this pricing structure with so many improvements.
PS5 Pro: The Next Generation Lineup
Although 3 years have passed since the launch of the PS5, it feels like the race for next-gen gaming has only just begun. The PlayStation 5 Pro could be Sony’s last major release and therefore the last console of this generation before we make another leap to even better graphics and gaming experiences.
With the release of the PS5 Pro, Sony will complete the lineup of a main console, a Pro console, a handheld and a VR gaming device. Games will only be released for the PS5 and the PS4 is also getting on in years. So we can expect to hear news about the PlayStation 5 Pro soon and if we look closely at the leaks, the PS5 Pro will be quite something with updated internals, better ray tracing power and upscaling performance if it is ever released in the future.
At the start of 2024, there are still only rumors about the existence of the most powerful gaming console of all time.
