PS4 Pro is just weeks away from its release date, and there are plenty of things average consumers and hardcore gamers should know about Sony’s high-spec PlayStation. We’ve boiled it down to the five most essential topics so you can make the best purchase decision!
1) It’s Not True 4K, But It Still Looks Great: One of the biggest selling points of the PS4 Pro is its advertised capability of playing 4K games. This benefit is true but not completely straightforward. The PS4 Pro doesn’t play 4K games natively in most cases. It instead upscales an HD image using a special algorithm to create something that looks 4K without the resource drain that true 4K support entails.
That may sound like a downer, but it’s not all bad news. In fact, a vast majority of those that recently went hands on with PS4 Pro claim its upscaling looks fantastic. CNET’s Sean Hollister recently said “the PS4 Pro doesn’t play 4K games, but it’s so close you may not care.” The tech experts at Digital Foundry referred to Sony’s wizardry as “almost revolutionary” in how well it simulates true 4K. Your supported PS4 games on a 4K TV will look great on Pro. Make no mistake about that.
2) 1080p Benefit Is Iffy: While the PS4 Pro does a lot for gamers with 4K TVs, those without the impulse to buy a new set in the near future may want to stay away. It’s true that 1080p visuals will be slightly augmented after super-sampling from the 4K source, but that fidelity jump may not be enough to warrant $399.
On the games side of things, there’s also very little indication that the Pro’s extra specs will be used to support better performance in 1080p mode. Rise Of The Tomb Raider is one title that has quite a few settings options to achieve 60 fps, but, otherwise, support is really mixed. At the very least, those content with 1080p should wait and see what happens before investing in a Pro. If you need something now that will will work great with your existing TV, the standard PS4 is $299.
3) Game Support Is Kinda Weird: Just because you buy a PS4 Pro on its release date, that doesn’t mean your entire games library will suddenly display in 4K like magic. For any visual enhancements on Pro, developers must release a patch that includes updated textures.
We have a full list of titles that will support the Pro at launch, and it’s a little odd. On Sony’s end, there’s very little in the way of new games that make use of the console. Existing titles like Uncharted 4 and The Last Of Us: Remastered are getting patches, but first-party games being released with Pro in mind won’t start until February with Horizon: Zero Dawn. Until then, you’ll have to settle for third-party titles like Watch Dogs 2 and Titanfall 2. The latter of that duo has Pro support on disc even before November.
4) All Current And Future PS4 Games Will Play On Pro And Standard: Sony made a point to emphasize this when the PS4 Pro was revealed in September, but it’s worth reiterating. Every PS4 game that’s ever been released will work just fine on the PS4 Pro, and every future PS4 game will function across both consoles. Pro-enabled titles will take advantage of the improved specs in the visuals or performance department, but the basic experiences will be cross-compatible. Both PS4 models will still carry value assumingly until PS5 is available.
5) Some VR Benefits Supposedly: Those that already have or are interested in PlayStation VR might want to give the PlayStation 4 Pro a second look. Sony has suggested that virtual reality experiences may support higher framerates on the high-spec machine. In simple terms, framerate in VR is the difference between feeling sick and having a blast.
What we don’t have right now, however, are hands-on reports with the console that verify these claims. Like game support, will VR titles have to be patched to take advantage of the Pro? If so, it’s benefit will be limited to creators that take the time to make an update. The PS4 Pro looks like it will be great for VR, but it’s hard to say for sure.
PlayStation 4 Pro will be available on Nov. 10 for $399.
What do you think of the PS4 Pro having read these tips? If you still can’t make a decision, we’ve also composed lists of reasons why you should and shouldn’t invest in the system!
