Looks like the PS5 Pro could have a GTA 6 problem
If you're buying the PS5 Pro just to play GTA 6 in 2025, you might want to rethink your position.
12th Sep 2024 11:54
Images via Sony | Rockstar Games
Looks like the PS5 Pro could have a GTA 6 problem
If you're buying the PS5 Pro just to play GTA 6 in 2025, you might want to rethink your position.
12th Sep 2024 11:54
Images via Sony | Rockstar Games
To quote Futurama, "Welcome to the world of tomorrow." At least, that's what Sony seems to be trying to do with the release of the PlayStation 5 Pro. Rumours had been swirling for months about a mid-gen refresh, so the console's reveal on September 10 wasn't too surprising, although it's definitely been grabbing headlines.
Boasting a hefty $700 price tag, the PS5 Pro has been in the spotlight for the fact it'll be pushing $800 by the time you add a stand and disc drive. Still, with it being billed as the definitive way to play modern games, what's a few hundred dollars between friends? Or so Sony would have you believe.
The PS5 Pro and GTA 6 debate
Despite PlayStation Lead architect Mark Cerny highlighting the 'big three' that make the PS5 Pro unique, AI-driven upscaling is the one most of you are interested in. Cerny reassured us that 45% faster rendering should improve the FPS of many titles, with a special 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' label being added to certain games.
Elsewhere, we're gearing up for the arrival of GTA 6 in 2025, which is rightly being hyped as the biggest video game of all time. As PC players settle in for a lengthy wait until GTA 6 arrives on PC, and Microsoft not giving us a more powerful Xbox Series, the PS5 Pro could be the go-to way to play the automotive adventure.
Sony releasing the PS5 Pro in November 2024 gives us plenty of time to splash out on one ahead of GTA 6's release, and hopefully, means any stock issues will be well out of the way by the time it's in our laps. Unfortunately, Digital Foundry suggested to IGN that anyone buying the PS5 Pro just for GTA 6 could be disappointed.
If you're looking for that magic 60 FPS from GTA 6, it sounds like the PS5 Pro might struggle to get there. Digital Foundry Technology Editor Richard Leadbetter told the site, "I think there's good evidence to suggest that the [GTA 6 trailer from last year] was running on either PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X," suggesting these base models should support it just fine.
As for the PS5 Pro pushing us further than that, Leadbetter isn't convinced. When asked if the new console could reach 60 FPS for GTA 6, he defiantly explained, "No, Grand Theft Auto games have always run complex simulations that push the CPU hard, which is why every GTA game has initially launched on their target platforms at 30fps (or lower!)."
Before you go refunding your pre-orders, it's not that the PS5 Pro won't deliver a 'better' version of GTA 6, with Leadbetter noting there "will be higher quality visuals, but likely still running at similar frame-rates [to the base console]." He also said that if GTA 6 can't sustain a locked 30 FPS, the Pro's 10% CPU bump should be more stable.
It's also unclear whether Rockstar is targeting 60 FPS on the standard PS5, which sounds like an 'all bets are off' situation if it is. The PS5 Pro is still a major upgrade from its predecessor, but if you plan on boasting around the water cooler that you're playing GTA 6 at the elusive 4K60, you might want to save your money.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
