Key Takeaways
- Hideo Kojima may be testing Death Stranding 2 on the unannounced PS5 Pro.
- The Pro is expected to be a semi-step upgrade with a faster GPU.
- Rumors suggest the Pro could be priced at $600, $100 more than the standard model.
Game designer Hideo Kojima may have accidentally teased his next title running on the unannounced PlayStation 5 Pro, Tech Times reports. On Thursday, Kojima posed for a photo taken by his assistant Ayako Terashima, showing him playing what’s presumably Death Stranding 2. The game has been publicly known for some time, but Kojima is playing with the PS5’s DualSense controller, with no PS5 in sight.
It’s possible that Kojima is playing with an older PS5 dev kit or a development PC, but given the timing of the photo, it’s more likely that he’s trying to hide a PS5 Pro dev kit. Rumors surrounding the Pro have accelerated in recent days, backing up previous claims that it will be unveiled by the end of 2024. One opportunity for Sony could be the Tokyo Game Show, which runs from September 26 to 29. On the final day, a special event for Death Stranding 2 is scheduled, with Kojima himself appearing. This title would be an ideal way to demonstrate the power of the Pro.
The Developer Kit is a developer-only version of the console with additional testing features.
What do we know about the PS5 Pro?
The Pro is expected to be a “semi-step” upgrade, rather than a true next-gen console. You’ll still be able to buy the current PS5. But it’s worth noting Faster GPUPerformance could improve by up to 45%. 4K gaming not only needs to be consistently smooth, but also delivers the maximum amount of detail, including ray-traced lighting, something the regular PS5 sometimes struggles with.
The PS5 Pro is expected to be a “semi-step” upgrade, rather than a true next-gen console.
The improved GPU should also support new upscaling techniques. PlayStation Spectrum Super Resolution (PSSR). This is similar to Nvidia’s DLSS, which boosts frame rates by rendering native content at a lower resolution, then using AI techniques to scale the output resolution. This is aided by a custom AI architecture and is another rumored feature of the PS5 Pro (although it may be practical). 8K Gaming. To date, only one game supports 8K on existing hardware.
Will the Pro be more expensive than the PS5 already on the market?
Sony
The price will be the console’s downside. Jeff Grubb Pro claims can be costly $600Meanwhile, even a PS5 Slim with discs is $500. Exchange rates and price hikes will likely make the system even more expensive elsewhere. Even if Sony is preparing for a price increase down the line, some gamers may want to wait for the inevitable release of the PS6.
