The PS5 Pro upgrade for Returnal delivers a significant resolution boost and enhanced performance

Returnal upgrade offers resolution and performance boost on PS5 Pro.

: Housemarque announced a free PS5 Pro upgrade for the game Returnal, enhancing resolution up to 2.5 times. The upgrade leverages dynamic resolution scaling, improving image quality significantly while maintaining gameplay at 60 frames per second. While there are no new visual effects like ray tracing, the resolution improvement makes the game visually superior on the PS5 Pro compared to the base model. However, some minor frame-time hitches are reported due to the increased graphical demands.

Housemarque has unveiled a substantial PlayStation 5 Pro upgrade for 'Returnal', aimed at significantly enhancing the game's resolution and performance. The upgrade boasts a resolution boost of up to 2.5 times, transforming the gaming experience from the base PS5's static 1080p resolution to a dynamic range that peaks at 1728p. This enhancement is facilitated by dynamic resolution scaling, which adjusts the resolution according to GPU load, providing smoother frame rates and clearer visuals. The game retains its stunning technological core, with effects that dazzle the screen, now polished with minimized visual noise compared to the base PS5 version.

During intensive scenarios like boss battles, the resolution can dynamically drop to as low as 1350p, but this is only in graphically taxing moments. Even then, the image fidelity is a marked improvement over the original PS5 resolution. Despite the resolution and performance enhancements, this update does not bring additional visual features such as ray tracing or new effects seen in the PC version. The focus here is solely on exploiting the PS5 Pro's enhanced GPU capacity to refine the game's visual and performance benchmarks.

Though the PS5 Pro upgrade boosts resolution and minimizes frame rate drops, it does not eliminate all performance issues. Minor stutters and frame-time hitches, particularly noticeable when graphical demands spike suddenly, remain. While the Pro version can clear up many of the frame rate drops evident in high-action sequences, slight hitches occur, potentially due to dynamic resolution adjustments responding to increasing demands. Notably, the PS5 Pro fails to incorporate features like ray tracing, which are available in the game's PC version.

Performance testing illustrates the upgrade's capability. The base PS5 experiences various frame rate dips, especially during intricate action scenes or when large areas are traversed quickly. The PS5 Pro stabilizes these situations, maintaining a steady 60 frames per second across most challenges and complex environments within the game. Performance consistency, alongside a considerable resolution upgrade, offers players a more stable and visually appealing game. Despite its limitations, the PS5 Pro patch succeeds in balancing resolution, gameplay performance, and visual stability.

The upgrade’s limitations are spotlighted when considering alternative improvements that were not pursued. The PS5 Pro's raw power could support a 120Hz mode, albeit with constraints, or incorporate some of the PC version’s graphical features. Fans have noted these absences, expressing interest in seeing how such additions might further enhance gameplay. However, Housemarque has concentrated on achieving the advertised resolution and performance improvements, making 'Returnal' a rewarding game worth revisiting on this upgraded platform.

Sources: Gamespot, Eurogamer, Gematsu

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