Returnal, Housemarque’s critically acclaimed roguelike shooter, has received a significant upgrade for the PlayStation 5 Pro. This update promises enhanced visuals and smoother performance, making an already stunning game even more immersive. According to Digital Foundry’s analysis, the PS5 Pro upgrade delivers a substantial resolution boost, potentially reaching up to 2.5 times the original, alongside improved frame rates. This article delves into the specifics of the upgrade, examining its impact on resolution, performance, and overall gameplay experience. Is it worth revisiting this all-time great shooter on the new hardware?
Originally, Returnal on the base PS5 utilized a fixed 1080p base resolution, reconstructed to 1440p and then upscaled to 4K via checkerboard rendering. While visually impressive, this setup resulted in some visual noise and fell short of the clarity achievable on the PC version. The PS5 Pro upgrade aims to address these limitations, providing a sharper and more stable visual experience. Let’s explore the technical improvements and whether they truly elevate the game.
Significant Resolution Improvement on PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro upgrade brings a notable resolution increase, peaking at 3072×1728, with dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) in place to manage GPU load. The lowest recorded resolution on the PS5 Pro is 2400×1350 during intense battles, ensuring that image quality remains consistently high. This dynamic adjustment replaces the static 1080p of the base PS5, providing a superior visual experience across various gameplay scenarios. Housemarque’s promise of a 2.5x resolution increase is not just marketing; the best-case scenario delivers closer to a 2.56x increase over the base PS5’s resolution, a commendable bonus.
The result is a cleaner and more detailed image. The flickering on hard edges is reduced, and the raw pixel structure is less apparent during bursts of effects. While temporal instability persists, the cross-hatch effect is subtler on the Pro due to the higher pixel density. However, this substantial resolution boost isn’t always sustainable. As the PS5 Pro offers approximately 1.45x the GPU power of the base model, the game utilizes dynamic resolution scaling effectively to maintain performance while maximizing visual fidelity.
How Dynamic Resolution Scaling Impacts Performance
Dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) is crucial for maintaining smooth performance on the PS5 Pro. By adjusting the resolution dynamically based on GPU load, the game ensures that frame rates remain stable even during the most demanding scenes. This means extracting the highest quality frames when the GPU has headroom and slightly reducing resolution during intense sequences. While it might have been beneficial to retrofit the base PS5 with DRS, the Pro patch effectively leverages the available GPU resources to deliver a balanced visual and performance upgrade.
No other visual upgrades are included in this patch. Volumetrics, alpha effects, textures, and shadows remain consistent with the original release. The focus is squarely on leveraging the PS5 Pro’s higher GPU resources to enhance resolution and frame rate stability. This straightforward approach delivers a tangible improvement without overhauling the entire visual experience.
Alternative Routes: 120Hz Mode and Ray Tracing
While the resolution and performance upgrades are welcome, there were alternative routes Housemarque could have explored. A 120Hz mode, even with a resolution drop, could have provided an exceptionally smooth gameplay experience. Furthermore, incorporating ray tracing features from the PC version, such as ray-traced reflections and shadows, would have added a new layer of visual fidelity, even as an optional mode. The decision not to include these enhancements is somewhat disappointing, leaving the PS5 Pro version without additional graphical toggles.
The absence of these features means that many of the PC version’s epic presets, including improved volumetrics resolution, remain exclusive to that platform. While the current PS5 Pro patch delivers on its primary goal, the potential for further enhancements remains untapped, making it a missed opportunity to fully showcase the console’s capabilities.
Performance Stability and Minor Drawbacks
Performance testing in Returnal is challenging due to its roguelike design. However, the PS5 Pro upgrade demonstrably improves frame rate stability. Boss battles and intense sequences in the Tower of Sisyphus maintain a stable 60fps, thanks to the higher GPU clock speed and dynamic resolution scaling. The DRS effectively scales between 1350p and 1728p, sensibly targeting the PS5 Pro’s capabilities. Overall, the move away from a fixed 1080p on the base PS5 provides more flexibility to handle the game’s intense visual effects.
Despite these improvements, traversal hitches persist, and there is a slightly higher frequency of 50ms hitches on the PS5 Pro, potentially due to the console adjusting resolution during sudden spikes in load. Despite these minor drawbacks, the evidence suggests that the PS5 Pro provides a more stable and visually enhanced experience compared to the base model.
Final Thoughts: A Worthwhile Upgrade
The Returnal PS5 Pro patch is a welcome surprise, demonstrating Housemarque’s continued commitment to the game. While resolution and performance boosts may not be the most ambitious use of the hardware, the extent of the pixel count increase is impressive. Given the relatively modest increase in GPU performance on the PS5 Pro, the dynamic resolution scaling is crucial in achieving a stable 60fps and sharper image.
The minor drawbacks, such as occasional frame-time hitches, are outweighed by the benefits of a more stable frame rate and significant image quality upgrade. Returnal remains one of the best shooters ever made, and this Pro upgrade provides a compelling reason to revisit this generation’s all-time classic. The enhanced visuals and smoother performance make the challenging gameplay even more rewarding, offering an optimized experience for PS5 Pro owners.
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