Returnal’s PS5 Pro Upgrade Overdelivers with Improved Image Quality, Performance

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Experts from Digital Foundry have given the unexpected PS5 upgrade for the game Returnal a thorough test, and the outcomes are truly astounding as one might say.

Despite Housemarque initially promising a 2.5x resolution improvement, the final product exceeds expectations. On Sony’s high-performance platform, it peaks at an impressive 3072×1728 resolution, thanks to the use of a dynamic resolution scaling feature.

In simpler terms, the original game looked amazing but its screen resolution was 1080 pixels. This resolution was improved and enhanced to 1440 pixels, then boosted further to 4K (which is approximately 3,840 x 2,160 pixels). This enhancement was done using a method called checkerboard rendering on the PS5 Pro version, resulting in a clearer overall picture.

Essentially speaking, performance tends to be more consistent overall. According to Digital Foundry, troublesome dips in certain boss fights have been resolved, with the slight drawback being occasional micro-stutters. These stutters appear when the dynamic resolution automatically readjusts.

While the PS5 Pro edition is impressive, it hasn’t quite reached the lofty heights set by the remarkable PC version, boasting ray tracing and additional enhancements.

As a dedicated fan, I must say that the complimentary update, unveiled to honor Returnal’s fourth anniversary, significantly enhances the game’s visual quality compared to its initial release. Now, with the prospect of Saros’ upcoming release looming, running one last time on my PS5 Pro feels enticing and rewarding.

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2025-05-06 11:09