A brand new DF Diret Weekly is here – as usual – today, with the team’s thoughts on the recent State of Play, reactions to the latest leaks about the RTX 5080/5090, and maybe inevitably, more on the PlayStation 5 Pro. However, it’s a question raised in last week’s Diret that I want to address in this week’s blog. Many believe – with some justification – that the PS5 Pro is a step too far and that a console like this is not necessary. In fact, we ourselves made that argument. Looking back at that article, I pointed out the higher costs of a Pro console, but also analyzed the potential improvements it could bring – all of which have materialized with the PS5 Pro. Microsoft passed on the opportunity to follow the same path, but now we have an idea of why Sony took a different route and perhaps understand the strategy better.
Observations on PlayStation Platform Benefits
Before diving into the topic, a keen observation made by one of our DF Supporter Program supporters is highlighted. For those invested in the PlayStation platform, skipping the PS5 Pro but likely purchasing a PS6, the arrival of an upgraded machine is good news for you.
Strategic Advantage of PS5 Pro for Sony
At first glance, launching a $699 console may not seem particularly good. However, the Pro innovates in the console space in a way that is essential for the hardware to come. Today, with the PS5 Pro, a $250 premium (compared to the equivalent base digital model) can’t do the same. Sony is achieving similar, if not superior, results by adding machine learning silicon and amplifying graphics through AI hardware. It also allowed Sony to add enhanced ray tracing capabilities within a likely tight silicon budget.
Continued Innovation for Console Graphics
Looking at the criticisms of the PS5 Pro today, it is reminiscent of the backlash against Nvidia’s RTX 20 series products in 2018. The products were initially met with skepticism, but over time, innovations such as DLSS upscaling and true ray tracing have become transformative technologies in the PC space. Sony’s approach with the PS5 Pro aligns with the need for custom silicon and software advancements to keep up with graphic innovation in the gaming industry.
PlayStation 5 Pro and the Future of Sony
We are facing such a big change that we should look at the PlayStation 5 Pro as the console that will kick off Sony in a crucial area. I dare to suggest that the PlayStation 6 may even need the PlayStation 5 Pro to exist for this evolution to happen. Sony’s technology groups need time to produce technologies like the PSSR, deploy them, and refine them. Meanwhile, game developers need to get used to these technologies rather than just focusing on them for their PC games.
Competitors in the Market
Sony is not alone in these efforts, of course. The Switch 2 will be released in 2025 with RT and machine learning silicon in its T239 processor, and unlike Sony, Nintendo has the advantage of leveraging existing Nvidia technologies. And then there’s Microsoft. Xbox president Sarah Bond has spoken of the 10th generation as “the biggest technological leap ever in a generation,” and I would bet that this refers to machine learning-based technologies and not a gigantic class GPU.
We’ve already seen Microsoft’s Auto SR upscaler come out of nowhere, and as we prepared our coverage, I was surprised by Microsoft’s willingness to talk to us about it, with some follow-up conversations after we got it up and running. Auto SR is impressive within its limits, but it’s easy to imagine that a more robust DLSS-like solution is also being produced for future hardware (however, Auto SR as it is can be implemented for later compatibility).
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