Digital Foundry magazine recently had the opportunity to partially test the PlayStation 5 Pro. Although the console has not yet been loaned to the renowned hardware editor for detailed and in-depth testing, the editors were able to play several games that had already been updated to the best possible gameplay on the PS5 Pro and were able to record their own footage of their gameplay. From there, it was only a step to compare how the games look on the PS5 Pro and how they look on the basic PS5, but also to test the performance of the PSSR upscaler against DLSS and FSR technologies, specifically in the game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Right at the beginning of the article and the corresponding video, Digital Foundry explains that it was not possible to simulate 100% the same conditions for testing all three upscalers, but they did their best to make the comparison as accurate as possible. As for the DLSS 3.7 settings, pixel counting was done to let Digital Foundry know the exact resolution the game is rendered at on the PS5 Pro and use DLSSTweaks to set the same resolution for DLSS testing. In the case of FSR 3.1, unfortunately, they only had to reach for the quality profile, and it transparently states that the version running with AMD’s upscaler was rendered in a slightly lower resolution. Digital Foundry also states that the conclusions cannot be universally understood, as the deployment of upscalers is a purely individual matter for each game and will therefore work slightly differently in each game.
Although the video says it all, it is worth mentioning that according to Digtal Foundry’s analysis, the PSSR upscaler works better than the FSR. This is revealed not only by general views of individual scenes, but above all by details, according to which, for example, AMD’s upscaler cannot handle particle effects, which are completely lost in some places due to image reconstruction. There is also the effect of stretching the image, for example behind the trajectory of Ratchet’s weapon swing, which simultaneously affects other parts of the image in the background. And, of course, it also concerns the overall instability of the image in the background, against which PSSR offers a relatively constant image in which degradation and artifacts are not so noticeable.
When compared to DLSS, the situation is the opposite, but according to Digital Foundry, the differences are not so great. When compared to Nvidia’s technology, PSSR generates a less stable image, another difference is a certain softness or blurring of the image compared to DLSS. As Digital Foundry explains, DLSS no longer includes automatic image sharpening, but lets the user set it separately, but here we are already getting to the level of individual taste, according to the magazine. Nevertheless, it seems that even the basic upscale using DLSS is sharper than the image coming from PSSR, which Digital Foundry explains, for example, by the fact that Nvidia has been sharpening its model for several years, while Sony is debuting it. The only thing in which PSSR achieves better results is the reconstruction of ray tracing, or in ray tracing driven reflections. This is due to the fact that Insomniac Games, according to Digital Foundry, adjusted the upscaler exactly according to the behavior of ray tracing in Ratchet, which Nvidia cannot offer.
But we’ll leave the rest to the video attached above, which is quite informative and can act as a forerunner of the tests and analyzes that will come with the launch of the console.
PlayStation 5 Pro: A Brilliant Upgrade or Just a Fancier Paperweight?
Ah, the PlayStation 5 Pro—Sony’s answer to the gamer’s eternal question: “Can I have my cake and eat it too, while also blasting off to distant galaxies?” Digital Foundry, those tech wizards we all secretly wish we could be BFFs with, got their hands on a not-so-secret slice of the PS5 Pro and have given us a sneak peek into its capabilities. Spoiler alert: you might want to grab some popcorn, because it’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride!
Testing the Waters
While our friends at Digital Foundry didn’t quite get the console to fully review (let’s face it, who has that kind of budget?), they managed to play some games that received a facelift for the Pro. They’ve got the gameplay footage, uh, the ‘money shots’ if you will, and they did a whoop-de-doo comparison between the graphics on the standard PS5 and the Pro. But wait, there’s more—this showdown features PSSR, DLSS, and FSR technologies. Who will emerge as the ultimate upscaling champion? Spoiler: It’s complicated!
Upscalers Galore: PSSR vs. DLSS vs. FSR
Right off the bat, the folks at Digital Foundry set the stage (but not *quite* the right one) for testing these three upscalers. They pointed out that it wasn’t possible to create a clone army of conditions for their tests. DLSS 3.7 saw pixel counting that even my grandma would struggle with. Meanwhile, FSR 3.1 had to settle for the quality profile, as it couldn’t even be bothered to show up in the same resolution ballpark as expected. That’s like showing up to a black-tie event in a Hawaiian shirt—awkward!
PSSR: The Dark Horse
Now, hold on to your controllers, because PSSR made a case for itself. According to Digital Foundry, it outperformed FSR handily. How? Well, the details in particle effects were as clear as my aunt’s Christmas sweater—blessedly intricate, while FSR’s feeble attempts ended up looking blurred and, quite frankly, a bit tragic. If someone tells you they like the look of FSR in comparison, they’re probably still trying to figure out what happened in the last Star Wars movie.
When PSSR Meets DLSS
Now comes the showdown we were all waiting for: PSSR vs. DLSS. The verdict? While PSSR isn’t a disaster, it’s not quite ready for Olympic gold either. Digital Foundry pointed out that PSSR’s images can waver like a toddler on a sugar high. Lacking that crispness you’d expect, it stumbled when it came to sharpness compared to DLSS. It’s like comparing a brand-new Bentley to an old rust bucket. Sure, they both drive, but only one will make heads turn—unless you’re me, and I happen to find beauty in old rust buckets.
The Final Word
In the end, Digital Foundry brilliantly reminds us (as if we needed more reminders of how complicated tech can be) that these upscalers work differently depending on the game. It’s like a buffet: some games will serve you a Michelin-starred meal, while others might dish out soggy fries.
For those ready to plunge into the PS5 Pro glory, stay tuned for more detailed tests and analyses that come with the console’s official launch. In the meantime, I recommend investing in some earplugs; those distant screams of “optimizations” are already echoing through the gaming community!
Check Out the Analysis Video!
