Summary
- Sony is testing huge upgrades for the PS5 Pro's PSSR upscaling algorithm, as per a reputable insider.
- The next iteration of PSSR reportedly aims for games to be able to run at 4K 120fps and 8K 60fps on PS5 Pro.
- PSSR may also support 1440p and 1080p, as well as lower base resolutions to allow greater flexibility and ease-of-use for developers.
A reliable insider has claimed that Sony is working on a major upgrade for the PlayStation 5 Pro's in-built AI resolution upscaling algorithm, termed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Should the leaked information be accurate, PS5 Pro players may be able to enjoy certain games at up to 8K 60fps.
The PS5 Pro expectedly features several hardware improvements, but there's one element on the software side that perhaps outweighs everything else: PSSR. This is Sony's first go at a resolution upscaler powered by neural networks and dedicated AI, much like Nvidia's DLSS, AMD's FSR 4, and Intel's XeSS tech. Barring a few outliers, PSSR had an impressive first showing when players got their hands on the PS5 Pro, with the majority of optimized games effortlessly being upscaled up to 4K from lower resolutions with negligible losses in image quality. Some PS5 Pro games even offered 8K modes thanks to PSSR.
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Sony has been quietly chipping away at PSSR behind the scenes since the PS5 Pro's launch, and according to known insider Moore's Law Is Dead, the upcoming evolution of the algorithm is rather ambitious. In a recent YouTube video, the insider alleged that PSSR's next iteration - which he dubbed "PSSR 2" - is a hefty upgrade that will enable games to be upscaled to 4K at a locked 120fps and even 8K at 60fps. If true, these are lofty targets, even more so considering how few consumers currently own 8K displays, but they could reflect Sony's intent to future-proof the PS5 Pro and potentially even pave the way for the PS6.
PS5 Pro's PSSR Upscaler Could Gain Support for 1440p
Additionally, Sony is reportedly working to add support for 1440p and 1080p - two extensively common resolutions - which PSSR currently doesn't work with natively. 1440p support was added to the base PS5 a few years ago, so this doesn't sound too far-fetched for PSSR on PS5 Pro. More notably, PSSR 2 will be capable of upscaling from much lower base resolutions, including 720p, 540p, and even 360p. This would allow developers more flexibility when targeting performance or lower-end rendering modes. Speaking of which, Sony is said to be refining PSSR 2 on the development side to be more lightweight and easier to implement.
The goal is to minimize any performance tax associated with PSSR while making the upscaler more accessible to developers. MLID claims that PSSR 2 has gone through multiple revisions, but as it stands, Sony has not commented on the matter, and this information should therefore be taken with a grain of salt. However, it's also worth noting that MLID was the first to leak the PS5 Pro's official specs, and Sony previously confirmed that it's working on integrating FSR 4 into PSSR and plans to launch the upgraded version in 2026.
- Brand
- Sony PlayStation
- Storage
- 2TB SSD
- VR Support
- PlayStation VR2
- Resolution
- Up to 8K
- App Store
- PlayStation Store
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7