Everything you need to know about the PlayStation 5 Pro

Four years since the release of the PlayStation 5, Sony has announced another edition of the fan-favourite.
Introducing the PlayStation 5 Pro. An upgraded version of the original with significantly larger storage, improved graphic performance and the introduction of AI software.
Set for an Australian release in November, the console is now available for pre-order.
Before you start playing, here is everything you need to know about the PlayStation 5 Pro.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
The PlayStation 5 Pro was announced on Wednesday, 11 September, 2024, by PlayStation 5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny. It is the fifth console in the PlayStation 5 range and the third major release in four years.
Long-time PlayStation fans should see this release as similar to the PlayStation 4 Pro, where the original PlayStation 4 console had significant improvements made to its speed and resolution.
The PlayStation 5 Pro is now available for pre-order from Amazon and Big W, selling for $1199.95. This is the best way to guarantee you’ll have the console on its release date.
It will officially hit the shelves in Australia on Thursday, November 7, 2024 – just in time for Christmas.
There have been a couple of iterations of the PlayStation 5 since its initial release in 2020. The PlayStation 5 Digital launched alongside the original that was compatible only with digital games and the PlayStation 5 Slim – a physically smaller console with a larger storage capacity – was released in 2023 also with a digital edition.
READ MORE: How to get your hands on a PlayStation 5 Slim
Despite being the fifth console in four years, the PlayStation 5 Pro has made major improvements die-hard fans will want to try.
The most significant upgrades are a larger GPU, improved Ray Tracing capabilities and AI-powered visual upscaling – and what Mark Cerny describes as “The Big Three.”
These inclusions remove the choice to play in Fidelity Mode or Performance Mode. Instead offers improved visuals and performance in both areas with Carny adding, “We want to give players the graphics that the game creators aspire to and the high frame rates the players typically prefer.”
A GPU is a processor designed to display and render graphics at a high quality while other systems operate in the background. 
The GPU of the PlayStation 5 Pro will have 67 per cent more Compute Units (a measurement of the number of components used in a GPU that process tasks) and 28 per cent faster memory than the PS5 Slim.
This means the PS5 Pro is more evenly balanced between the visual quality and the speed. This will allow a higher frame rate without sacrificing high resolution. 
Ray Tracing is a computer graphics system that renders visuals in a scene to add natural and realistic lighting, shadows and reflections.
The PlayStation 5 Pro will have up to 45 per cent faster visual rendering than the PS5 Slim, with Carny revealing it “allows calculation of the rays at double or triple the speeds of PlayStation 5.”
This will increase the overall visual quality and provide a greater immersive gaming experience for games while playing their characters in different environments.
The PlayStation 5 Pro introduces the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for even greater visual improvements. This AI-learning technology analyses each pixel in the game appearing on screen. Subsequently it adds colour, depth and detail to the visuals to “boost the effect of the resolution of the games.”
This system has been designed to improve the visual quality and clarity of PS5 Pro-compatible games on TVs and screens with a resolution of 4K or higher and with frame rates of up to 120 per second.
Sony and PlayStation have yet to release the full specs of the PlayStation 5 Pro, but what they have revealed is set to have gamers very excited.
Here is everything we know so far:
The PlayStation 5 Pro stands 10.4cm high and measures 35.8cm wide – slightly larger than the original console. The console is designed to be laid flat, but a vertical stand can be purchased separately. 
This console does not come with a built-in disc drive and is for playing digital games only. Players can buy an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive to add their console separately.
Avid gamers with large save files can rest easy playing the PS5 Pro, with 2TB of storage. This is double the amount of storage provided on the PlayStation 5 Slim.
All digital PS5 games can be played on the new console using the same features and interface as the PS5 Slim. Games that utilise the new features of the console will be labelled as ‘PS5 Pro Enhanced’.
Some of the games improved for the PS5 Pro include:
The PlayStation 5 Pro is also compatible with the PlayStation VR2, PlayStation’s most recent Virtual Reality gaming headset and the PlayStation Portal, a handheld console that pairs with the PlayStation 5 to play your games away from the console.
For those wanting to play straight away without having to download your games, Astro’s Playroom comes pre-installed with the console.
READ MORE: The 2024 video game releases we can’t wait to play
Like many modern consoles, the PlayStation 5 Pro has backwards compatibility – a software that lets you play games made for older consoles so you don’t need to buy another copy of a game.
The PS5 Pro is backwards compatible with over 8500 gaming titles available for the PlayStation 4 onwards. 
Using its new Game Boost setting, the PlayStation 5 Pro can enhance and improve the graphics and visual quality while stabilising the performance of these older games.
The DualSense wireless controller is the standard controller that comes with PlayStation 5 consoles. One DualSense controller is included with the PS5 Pro and comes with all the recognisable features including Adatpive Triggers and Haptic Feedback.
The PlayStation 5 Pro is compatible with Wi-Fi 7 – the latest Wi-Fi system available in the country for faster internet speeds with reduced network traffic. This addition will help players connect more easily when playing online and downloading games to their console.
The PlayStation 5 Pro will retail in Australia for $1199.95. This will cost over $400 more than the PlayStation 5 Slim and up to $520 more than its digital edition. 
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