Unlock the Myth: Wukong’s PS5 Pro Update Boosts Performance and Refines Base Console Experience
The Evolution of Black Myth: Wukong on PS5
The phenomenon that was Black Myth: Wukong has taken the gaming world by storm, impressing players with its fast-paced action and stunning visuals. But, its launch on PS5 left something to be desired, with frame-rate locks and frame generation at a 30fps base frame-rate. However, developer Game Science has since addressed these issues with the latest patch, introducing PS5 Pro support and leveraging PSSR to improve image quality for Pro players. In this piece, we’ll explore if the console version is now in decent shape and if the Pro upgrade lives up to its promises.
Tweaks and Demos
Let’s start by examining the patched PS5 code. The most notable change here is the sharpening slider, which is now available. With no sharpening, the image looks soft but free of aliased edges. Turning up the slider to 10 provides a crisp, high-contrast image, while a setting of 7 matches the performance of the base PS5 at launch.
Lumen GI and Shadows
The other notable visual change is the more obvious occlusion in certain parts of the game world, resulting in slightly different shadow maps. The other modes also exhibit some GI differences relative to the launch code, albeit less obviously so.
Visual Settings and Performance
Other visual settings, such as resolution, appear similar. The game still runs at 1080p internally, with no apparent upsampling to a higher output resolution. Frame-gen is still a reality, and performance is generally similar, usually maintaining 60fps, with occasional dips.
Balancing Act
Balance mode gets a different visual treatment, with more detail and finer geometric lines, albeit at a 1080p internal resolution with a 1440p-like output. The performance mode, on the other hand, still employs frame generation and usually holds 60fps, although it may disable frame-gen during camera position changes, resulting in some dips.
The Role of PS5 Pro
On PS5 Pro, the quality mode receives a significant boost, leveraging PSSR to produce a 4K-like image from a 1296p input resolution. This results in a sharper, more detailed image, especially during movement. The balance mode is similar, with a 1296p internal resolution upscaled to 4K using PSSR. The performance mode remains unchanged, still running at 1080p and 60fps.
Conclusion
While the Pro upgrade is on the conservative side, it represents a clear improvement from the base game, with the quality and balance modes now featuring a 4K-like image. There are still some unusual settings choices, such as frame-gen at 60fps, making it challenging for some players. Nevertheless, the PS5 and Pro versions of Black Myth: Wukong have taken important steps forward, making them recommendable, albeit with a few caveats.
