/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24575655/Substack_001.jpg)
Sony is pushing forward with the PlayStation 5 Pro, despite initial criticisms about the hardware refresh offering too little bang for too many bucks. But supporters of the new console point to upgraded games like Alan Wake 2—visually stunning games that are supposed to look even better on the Pro device, thanks to a better GPU and Sony’s proprietary PSSR upscaling tech, as reasons to back the venture.
As time goes on, PlayStation owners will no doubt be looking toward the horizon, wondering what other current-gen titles will be getting the PS5 Pro makeover. A number of PlayStation games, like Bloodborne, could definitely benefit from a nice boost in performance and resolution, making them more palatable for modern audiences, but third-party releases have a lot of growth potential as well. Specifically, CD Projekt Red’s much-transformed Cyberpunk 2077 could make great use of this new hardware, giving console players a PC-adjacent gaming experience.
Cyberpunk 2077 Could Shine with PS5 Pro Enhancements
Cyberpunk 2077 On PC Is a Touchstone Release
Despite its myriad technical woes upon release, Cyberpunk 2077 has transformed into a much more polished product over the years, to the point where it is regularly used to run benchmarks for PC systems. Indeed, Cyberpunk‘s ray-tracing and visual density are industry-leading, and this makes the game the perfect venue to exhibit advancements in gaming tech.
One such advancement that shines ever brighter through Cyberpunk 2077 is NVIDIA DLSS, an AI-driven upscaling software that allows players to approximate high-end PC performance on lower-spec systems. Cyberpunk has arguably been the main stage for DLSS, its impressive visuals enticing players to dip their toes into AI upscaling. DLSS, AMD’s FSR equivalent, and the high-powered GPUs of most modern PC builds combine to make Cyberpunk 2077 one of the most visually striking games on PC, and the PS5 Pro could make the same true on console.
PS5 Pro’s New Capabilities Should Benefit Cyberpunk 2077
Sony has released high-powered console spin-offs before, namely the PS4 Pro, which introduced 60FPS and 4K resolution to many high-end first-party games. However, the PS5 Pro may represent a greater leap, not because of its raw power, but because of PSSR. It’s this AI-based tech that has the most potential to benefit games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Much like how DLSS allows players with relatively modest PC builds to approach the performance of kits with 40-series GPUs, PSSR can make Cyberpunk 2077 a far more appealing product for console owners. For many players, the greatest drawback of both the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles is the compromise between framerate and resolution: precious few games allow for both 60FPS and 4K or 1440p resolution, and ray tracing adds a whole other complex layer to the mix. Since Cyberpunk 2077 leverages all of these technical categories to great effect, being able to enjoy all of them with the help of PSSR would be a boon for the game on PlayStation systems.
It’s important to note that AI upscaling software like DLSS doesn’t actually make games run at higher resolutions. Typically, games with DLSS turned on will run at a lower resolution internally before being upscaled to appear sharper in-frame.
Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way on console, and its next-gen upgrade two years ago helped it regain some much-needed credibility with non-PC players. That said, the best Cyberpunk experience is still on PC, which allows for the possibility of both high resolution and advanced VFX like ray tracing, without sacrificing strong FPS, usually above 60. Cyberpunk 2077 still requires players to choose between high FPS and resolutions above 1080p on consoles, but leveraging the PS5 Pro’s power could mean unshackling it from these restrictions.
