Cyberpunk 2077
Let's begin with CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG. When it hit PS4 in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was a complete mess — a storm of technical problems that defied belief. But the Polish team stuck by their creation, eventually turning it into one of the most engaging and emotionally powerful adventures available on PS5.
Yet, as noted, 2077 isn't flawless on Sony's latest console, showing some frame rate dips in particularly crowded areas of the map. There are even a few spots where the game is known to crash if you cause enough mayhem — though it's fair to say most players will likely never run into this problem.
On PS5 Pro, the frame rate holds up noticeably better when using the game's performance mode. Densely populated areas, like the space in front of V's megabuilding home, appear to stick closer to the 60 frames-per-second goal.
Sure, it's not perfect, but from what we can see, the drops aren't nearly as obvious. You need to start whirling the camera around to notice any clear impact, and it's the same story in other demanding areas, like the markets near Vik's clinic and Corpo Plaza.
Naturally, the next test involves some well-intentioned chaos. We took on swarms of police across what seemed like half of Night City, and the whole rampage ran smoothly.
To wrap up, we headed to where V first encounters Songbird in the Phantom Liberty expansion — a notoriously demanding area teeming with enemies, just outside Dogtown. No crashes, and no major frame rate issues. If you've ever tried to start a shootout there, you know that's a win.
Final Fantasy 16
Moving on to Final Fantasy 16. The 2023 action RPG's performance mode aims for 60fps, and while it mostly hits that target in combat, it's during exploration that you'll notice some slowdowns on the standard PS5.
Visiting various locations on our endgame save, we're pleased to report that Final Fantasy 16 seems to enjoy better frame rates almost everywhere on PS5 Pro. Hooray!
However, it's still not a constant 60fps. Dips still occur when Clive runs quickly, and although the fluctuations appear less frequent overall, it's not the kind of substantial boost we were hoping for.
Still, it is an improvement, and we're left wondering if Square Enix will release an official PS5 Pro update. After all, the groundwork seems to be in place, thanks to the new console's upgraded hardware.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Released just last month for PlayStation 5 and 4, Metaphor: ReFantazio serves as an intriguing case study. On the standard PS5, this turn-based RPG faces some surprising challenges, like struggling to maintain 60fps despite its basic graphical quality.
Thankfully, the $700 system steps up, significantly improving the game's performance. From our experience, previously problematic areas - such as Grand Trad's bustling market street - now run almost flawlessly.
While Metaphor should ideally run smoothly from the start, it still showcases the PS5 Pro's capabilities right out of the box.
Are you planning to try any of these games on PS5 Pro? Do you appreciate seeing unpatched titles getting performance boosts on Sony's new system? Share your thoughts on frame rates in the comments below.
Hands On: Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 16, and Metaphor: ReFantazio All Get a Boost on PS5 Pro
Frame raters
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