The gaming landscape continues to evolve, and while many consoles strive to deliver high-performance experiences, certain titles remain particularly challenging. Elden Ring exemplifies this struggle, showing that even advanced systems face hurdles when it comes to maintaining performance standards.
The PS5 Pro has demonstrated that it cannot achieve a stable 60 frames per second while running Elden Ring, as recently analyzed in a technical review. This expansive title, featuring a rich open world, interactive weather, and a changing cycle of day and night, demands considerable resources—even from premium PC setups. Despite multiple updates aimed at enhancing its performance on the PS5 since its initial launch, the results have been inconsistent. A recent video analysis has explored the efficacy of the PS5 Pro's Game Boost technology, ultimately concluding that the console does not meet expectations for a locked 60 FPS experience.
According to findings from various sources, playing Elden Ring in its quality mode—which emphasizes superior graphics over frame rates—occasionally reaches 60 FPS but predominantly remains in the mid-50s, sometimes even dipping into the 40s in particularly intense moments. Additionally, it's important to mention that the PS5's Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) functionality operates only above 48 FPS, meaning that these frame dips are particularly evident for players using VRR.
On the other hand, performance mode, which sacrifices some visual fidelity to boost frame rates, does result in improved performance. However, it still does not achieve a consistent 60 FPS. Observations noted the presence of sporadic frame drops, both singular and in clusters, though performance mode maintains frame rates above the critical 48 FPS threshold that allows VRR to function effectively. In summary, while performance mode on the PS5 Pro offers the best available console experience for Elden Ring, it still lacks a seamless experience.
Furthermore, the heavily resource-intensive ray tracing mode was also analyzed on the PS5 Pro. The review described this aspect as an odd experience, with certain segments of the game benefiting significantly from the enhanced hardware, whereas others realized minimal improvement.
The PS5 Pro represents Sony's notable mid-cycle upgrade, featuring a significant increase in compute cores (67% more), enhancements in RAM speed (28% faster), and rendering speeds that are 45% faster, all priced at $699. For those contemplating the value of this investment, an extensive review of the PS5 Pro highlighted a score of 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as an impressive option for technology enthusiasts.
Regardless of its worthiness, the PS5 Pro undeniably serves as an optimal platform for enjoying top-tier PS5 titles.