Unlock the Ultimate Gaming Experience: PS5 Pro and PS5 SR Crush in Remastered The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5 Pro: A Detailed Look at PSSR Upscaling
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5 Pro promises to deliver a 4K-like visual experience at a full-fat 60fps frame-rate target. But how does Sony’s new machine learning PSSR upscaling solution fare in our first extended look at the technology? Can it replace native 4K, or does it fall short of that lofty target?
Naughty Dog’s Approach
Developer Naughty Dog is refreshingly open about the basic rendering setup in this update. The new "Pro" mode delivers a 4K final image with PSSR upsampling from a 1440p internal resolution at 60fps. This means we’re looking at a new rendering option that superficially seems similar to the old Performance mode, with the same internal rendering resolution and frame-rate target. So, most image quality differences here should come down to that new reconstruction method.
PSSR Upscaling in Action
In side-by-sides, the PSSR upscale is delivering a lot of extra image detail relative to the old 1440p render. The difference can be surprisingly stark at times, like with the fine textures and water droplets on Abby’s backpack, which are rendered with much more detail on Pro. Part 2 has some very nice art assets, and PSSR exposes a lot of texture detail that’s obscured on the base machine. It also does a good job of avoiding moiré patterns on fine texture detail, which is very good for an upsampling solution.
Geometric Edges and Foliage
Geometric edges also look quite a bit sharper and better-defined than on the base console. The PS5 looked fine, but had a slightly soft-focus look on a 4K set, with edge detail deadened by a more moderate rendering resolution combined with TAA. The Pro delivers a much stronger result here, without the blurred edges characteristic of regular upscalers.
Image Breakup and Foliage
Image detail at rest is improved quite a lot overall. The extent that matters depends on how you choose to play PS5 – whether you view the game at close range on a monitor, where image clarity differences are often more apparent, or at a longer distance on a TV, where sometimes they can seem more subdued. One issue that is quite apparent at all viewing ranges is image breakup, as flickering on high-contrast edges tends to catch the eye even if a slight softness throughout the frame is harder to perceive.
Performance and Fidelity Modes
The comparison with performance mode perhaps flatters the Pro a little bit, because the baseline expectation is that the Pro should be delivering a better image. But what about the PS5’s fidelity mode, which offers a full 4K image with TAA at a default 30fps? The most obvious difference is that the Pro is actually resolving more image detail, which is especially clear in texture art. Edge detail also appears somewhat sharper, and the foliage – in common with the performance mode – takes on a more refined appearance on Pro.
Depth of Field and Minor Issues
The only other visual change of note is depth of field, which is deeper on Pro than in either PS5 mode. The depth of field in the fidelity mode and Pro appears to count at the same 1080p resolution, but the upsampling process to 4K may be decreasing that blurring effect. On some occasions the intersection of in-focus and out-of-focus elements can produce a bit of a haloing effect on Pro, though this is also evident at different moments in the PS5 modes as well. There are also some issues with some things appearing to not render correctly on Pro, but these minor discrepancies are likely to be bugs that will be fixed for launch.
Comparison to PC Temporal Up-scalers
Perhaps the most interesting point of comparison for Sony’s new upsampling solution is going to come against FSR and DLSS temporal up-scalers on PC. Unfortunately, we don’t have a version of TLOU Part 2 on PC as of yet, but The Last of Us Part 1 can serve as a stand-in for quick-and-dirty comparisons. Relative to AMD’s FSR 3, PSSR has clear merits. FSR tends to suffer from a lot of disocclusion issues and aliasing in general whenever there’s motion on screen, which PSSR handles much more gracefully.
Conclusion
Overall, I’d say the PS5 Pro’s rendition of The Last of Us Part 2 seems successful, even in this pre-release state. It delivers a credible looking 4K image with excellent detail and pretty good image stability, at a virtually flawless 60fps update. For now, early indications suggest PSSR, in combination with the Pro, is capable of delivering a solid 4K60 experience in a range of PS5 software, including in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.
