Update: September 9, 2024 (11:19 AM ET): We’ve updated this PlayStation 5 Pro rumor hub with the possible launch date for the console.

Original article: On November 15, 2013, Sony launched the PlayStation 4. Three years later, almost to the day, Sony launched an upgraded version known as the PlayStation 4 Pro. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 launched on November 12, 2020. If you do the math, that means it’s been almost four years since we saw the PS5 console launch. And now, it’s time for the PS5 Pro.

The PS4 Pro was only a slight iteration of the PS4. It used the same controller, played the same games, and had all the same features. Its main reason for existing was to allow for smoother gameplay, 4K support across various games, and a few other quality-of-life upgrades.

In this article, we have rounded up all the credible rumors we’ve seen so far related to a PS5 Pro. We’ve also compiled a wishlist of features we hope to see, even if we haven’t seen any evidence for them yet.

Much like the mythical Nintendo Switch Pro, Sony has not confirmed a PS5 Pro is on the way or even in the works. Believe it or not, Sony launching a “Pro” version of its home game console has only happened once. The original PlayStation, the PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation 3 never saw Pro-level models. That means we are banking a lot on the existence of the PlayStation 4 Pro in our assumption that there could be a PlayStation 5 Pro.

That being said, there is plenty of evidence to support a PS5 Pro’s likely arrival. Sony has also announced a September 10 presentation and a minor slip-up from the company has all but confirmed that the online event would feature the PS5 Pro launch.

Previously, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive — the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise — went on the record to say he thinks a PS5 Pro will happen. Meanwhile, leaker Tom Henderson said, “with a 100% degree of certainty,” that the PlayStation 5 Pro is “currently in development.” Prominent games insider Jeff Grubb of GamesBeat and Giant Bomb also joined in the chorus and claimed on his Game Mess podcast that industry insiders have confirmed a mid-gen upgrade is happening.

We’ve also seen the supposed codename of the device leak: “Trinity.” This is, without a doubt, a reference to The Matrix film series. Previously, Sony has used Matrix-themed codenames, such as for the PlayStation 4 Pro (“Neo”) and the PlayStation VR (“Morpheus”).

Another leak, this time from Im A Hero Too, claims Square and Sega both have new PS5 devkits. It’s pretty reasonable to believe this is further confirmation that the PS5 Pro is on its way in 2024. More recent leaks also indicate that the PS5 Pro exists and is on track for a launch before the holiday season.

• PlayStation 4 Pro — November 10, 2016

The PlayStation 5 Pro is more than likely to launch on September 10, but we can’t say when it will become available for sale. The company is expected to share those details during its nine-minute online presentation.

Based on the launch cycle of the PlayStation 4 series, we would’ve assumed we’d see it by November 2023, but nothing happened. A late October or early November 2024 ship date would allow Sony to capitalize on the lucrative holiday shopping season and would line up with the late September launch of the PS4 Pro.

In the Game Mess podcast mentioned earlier, Grubb initially said that he had heard that the PS5 Pro is scheduled for September 2025. Shortly after, he corrected himself, stating that he wrote down 2025 but is fairly confident the system is supposed to be out in 2024.

Meanwhile, Serkan Toto, CEO of games consultancy company Kantan Games, told CNBC:

There seems to be a broad consensus in the game industry that Sony is indeed preparing a launch of a PS5 Pro in the second half of 2024. Sony will want to make sure to have a great piece of hardware ready when GTA VI hits in 2025, a launch that will be a shot in the arm for the entire gaming industry.

Insider Gaming reiterates that the PS5 Pro console’s target release date is Fall 2024. Tom Warren of The Verge has also said a launch could possibly happen by the end of this year. More recently, at Gamescom 2024, several publications noted that developers aren’t as shy about the existence of the PS5 Pro anymore, which suggests that the device is launching soon.

As mentioned earlier, the star feature of the PlayStation 4 Pro was 4K support. As it stands today, the PlayStation 5 already supports 4K on a huge selection of titles. Technically, it even supports 8K. However, 8K support is limited to just one game — and it’s not a very popular one. It’s possible the PlayStation 5 Pro could support 8K natively on more titles or even 8K upscaling on games that don’t have that resolution natively. The report from Insider Gaming mentions that support for resolutions up to 8K is planned for future software updates of the PS5 Pro.

This resolution upgrade would necessitate an upgrade in hardware. The PS5 runs on a custom processor based on an AMD Zen 2 build combined with a custom RDNA 2 GPU. One theory, originating from RedGamingTech on YouTube, is that the new PlayStation could have a new Ryzen APU, which would also be customized significantly.

Later, in December 2023, a full set of specs for this supposed processor leaked. Allegedly, the processor comes with the codename “viola” and is still based on the AMD Zen 2 architecture. This makes sense, as the PS5 Pro getting a whole new processor would make it more like a PS6, so there are no surprises there. Check out the rest of the leaked specs below:

Based on this leak, the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro could be capable of smoother refresh rates and better graphics processing. Many PlayStation games give you the option of prioritizing graphics or performance. It’s possible Sony could lean into this more, with the PS5 Pro capable of rock-solid 120fps gameplay at higher resolutions or rock-solid 4K graphics at variable refresh rates.

YouTube Channel Moore’s Law is Dead revealed some GPU specifications, and these were corroborated by another Insider Gaming report. The GPU is said to offer 33.5 Teraflops of single-precision compute, as against the regular PS5’s 10.28 Teraflops. The numbers cannot be directly compared, though, as there are changes in the underlying AMD RDNA architecture, so you could be looking at about 45% faster rendering than the PS5. You can also look forward to 2-3x better ray-tracing performance, going up to even 4x better in some cases. Other tidbits include a custom machine learning architecture and an AI accelerator supporting 300 TOPS of 8-bit computation.

Another report, this time from Digital Foundry, claims that the GPU has a clock speed of 2.18GHz with a boost speed up to 2.35GHz. Meanwhile, the cache of the GPU has been upgraded with the L1 cache offering 256KB and the L0 cache going up to 32KB. These numbers double what you get with the PS5’s GPU. On top of improvements to the clock speed and cache, Sony has also fit in new DirectX 12 Ultimate features such as variable rate shading and hybrid MSAA. Altogether, these enhancements will reportedly boost performance by 45%.

Once again, Jeff Grubb mentions that the PS5 Pro could have its own proprietary upscaling technology similar to NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology. A patent discovered by GameRant confirms Sony is at least thinking about proprietary hardware-driven upscaling that uses machine learning to improve a game’s performance and visuals. The reveal from Moore’s Law is Dead indicates that this could take the shape of “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution” (PSSR) upscaling.

Another thing that could see improvement is ray tracing. The PlayStation 5 supports ray tracing, but it requires the system to work pretty hard and requires some performance trade-offs. Upscaling hardware could give the system what it needs to support ray tracing more efficiently and on more titles.

It appears ray tracing may be what Sony wants developers to focus on when creating games for the PS5 Pro. According to The Verge, sources close to the subject say developers are being asked by Sony to make sure their games are compatible with the Pro and “focus on improving ray tracing.” Moreover, Sony is said to be encouraging developers to use the label “Trinity Enhanced” (PS5 Pro Enhanced) if the improvements are significant.

The report goes on to corroborate previously reported leaked specs, like a more powerful GPU and faster CPU, while adding that Sony is increasing the system memory by 28% to 576GB/s. It’s also expected that this increase in speed and memory could be used to further support the aforementioned PSSR technology.

Another report from the publication explains the qualifications for earning the PS5 Pro Enhanced label. One way includes increasing the target resolution for PS5 Pro games that run at a fixed resolution on the base model. Another way is to increase the target maximum resolution for games that run at a variable resolution on PS5. This means a game that runs between 1080p and 1440p at 30FPS on PS5, but runs at 1440p and 2160p on the PS5 Pro at the same FPS would be eligible for the Enhanced title. Additionally, developers can earn the label by enabling ray-tracing effects in a game that didn’t have it before. No raising of the resolution would be needed for this option. Finally, if the developer were to raise the FPS (e.g., from 30 to 60) despite having the same resolution, this would also qualify for the Enhanced label.

Some improvements that wouldn’t qualify for the Enhanced label include stabilizing the frame rate on the Pro. The developer would also be denied if the game runs at a variable resolution on the PS5 and the increased resolution on the Pro didn’t increase the maximum resolution. For example, if a game that had a variable resolution between 1080p-1440p on PS5 was bumped up to a variable resolution between 1280p-1440p on PS5 Pro, that would not qualify.

Older games would reportedly benefit from the PS5 Pro as well. Even if the game isn’t updated to the latest SDK, the new console will have an “ultra-boost” mode. This mode would allow VRR modes to run at a higher frame rate, as well as help games with a variable resolution hit higher resolutions. However, ultra-boost won’t provide improvements for every old unpatched game, like those that have fixed resolution and graphical settings. But the report claims that developers can still use PSSR with their un-updated games, and Sony may also give these developers access to additional system memory.

Insider Gaming has reported that the PS5 Pro could come with an identical CPU to the regular PS5. However, the PS5 Pro could come with a “High CPU Frequency Mode,” which would take the CPU to 3.85GHz over the current 3.5GHz, which is a 10% increase. A caveat noted for this feature is that it could downclock the GPU and result in about 1% lower GPU performance.

The RAM on the PS5 Pro is said to be running at 576GB/s, as against the regular PS5’s 448GB/s speeds. This is a 28% increase over the standard console. The RAM is also said to be more efficient, so the bandwidth gain could be even more. As for the storage, the PS5 Pro could come with a 1TB internal storage variant. Further information on storage is not available at the moment.

The Audio Compute Voice (ACV) is also said to be running at a higher clock speed, with the Audio Compute Module library boasting 35% more performance. The end result is that more complex sounds can be processed quickly.

Insider Gaming also suggests that the PS5 Pro will feature a detachable disc drive. This will likely be similar in implementation to the current PS5 SKU.

More recently, a new leak courtesy of reputable PlayStation leaker billbil-kun suggested that Sony’s upcoming console will indeed be named the PlayStation 5 Pro. This information was shared in a report on Dealabs, which also included a sketch of the console supposedly based on its retail packaging. The design appears to resemble the PS5 Slim, sharing the same overall form with dual USB-C ports and the power button situated on the front.

Looking at this image, the only noticeable distinction between the PS5 Slim and the Pro seems to be the three black stripes on the detachable covers of the latter, compared to the Slim’s single stripe. Additionally, billbil-kun indicates that the PS5 Pro is expected to be marginally thicker than the Slim version, which aligns with the rumored performance enhancements.

The important thing to remember, though, is that this will not be a PS6. The PS5 Pro would be a better iteration of the current console, not some wild leap forward. Only the most demanding gamers would feel the need to upgrade from a PlayStation 5, but it could be the nudge needed for people still using a PS4.

Another patent from the console maker hints toward a feature capable of dynamically adjusting a game’s difficulty. The feature appears in a patent called “Adaptive Difficulty Calibration For Skills-Based Activities In Virtual Environments,” and aims to keep games engaging by lowering or raising difficulty according to the player’s skill.

• PlayStation 4 Pro — $399

Up until October 2023, the PlayStation 5 had two versions: a disc-less Digital Edition that cost $399 and a disc-based standard edition for $499. In November 2023, the refreshed versions of these consoles hit store shelves, with the Digital Edition jumping from $399 to $449 and the standard edition sticking with the same $499 price. One would assume that a Pro-level model would need to be more expensive than these two. However, that might not be the case.

For context, the PlayStation 4 cost $399 when it launched in 2013. In September 2016, the PlayStation 4 Slim landed, and it only cost $299. In November 2016, the PlayStation 4 Pro launched at $399. Therefore, there is a precedent that Sony could drop the price of the regular PlayStation 5 and launch the Pro model at the $499 price we see today. However, with Sony launching “new” PS5 consoles in November 2023 with the same or higher prices as we saw in 2020, it is possible the Pro model — if it even comes out — could be much more expensive.

Grubb’s final PS5 Pro-related reveal on his podcast was the potential price. The GamesBeat journalist expects the system to be more expensive, possibly selling for $600.

We hope the PlayStation 5 Pro doesn’t cost more than $500, though. The last time Sony went over that mark with the upgraded 60GB PlayStation 3, it was not well-received, to say the least. With inflation rates soaring, we could see it hit ~$550, but fingers crossed that doesn’t happen.

Should you wait for the PS5 Pro?

If you’re already rocking a PS5, there’s likely no absolute need to upgrade anytime soon (or really at all, if Sony follows how it handled the Pro). For those who’ve yet to pick one up, waiting still might be a good idea. Even if you settle for an OG PS5 after the Pro’s launch, the announcement will no doubt lead to cheaper pricing for the PS5, or at least for second-hand units.

Better thermals

The PlayStation 5 doesn’t sound like a jet engine when it’s operating at a heavy load. This is a welcome change from the PS4, PS4 Slim, and even PS4 Pro, which all had crazy-loud fan noise. However, the downside to quieter fans is higher temperatures, and the PlayStation 5 can get pretty toasty under heavy load.

It would be great to see the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro have a better grip on thermals. Even if it ran a few degrees cooler at heavy loads, that would be nice. This would likely require some redesign of the internals and possibly even a new type of case. Still, a classy redesign could add to the appeal of upgrading to the Pro model, so that would be a win-win.

Quick-swapping of games

If you are playing a game and put the PS5 into rest mode, when you come back, you can pick up right where you left off. This feature is excellent, especially for folks with kids or busy social lives. It’s always been a pain to hold off on doing something because you need to get an in-game save point.

The problem, though, is that you can only do this for one game at a time. It would be nice if the PlayStation 5 Pro enabled this feature for multiple games. That way, you could stop playing one game, jump into another, and then go back and forth between the two without losing your spots. We’re not sure why you can’t do this already — possibly there’s insufficient RAM? — but we hope Sony finds a way to do this with the PS5 Pro.

Have any Sony PlayStation 5 Pro leaks to share with us? Send us a tip, and we’ll check it out.