GTA 6 on PS5 Pro vs PS5: is the upgrade worth it?

For GTA 6, the PS5 Pro gives you a sharper, better-lit picture, not a smoother one. Confirmed Rockstar says the game targets 30 frames per second on consoles, and Sony says the Pro adds PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and ray-traced shadows. If you already own a PS5, you don’t need a Pro to play GTA 6 well. If you’re buying a console now and care most about the picture, the Pro is the better PS5 for it.

What each console gets

Confirmed The PS5 and PS5 Pro rows come from Sony’s PlayStation Blog and Rockstar’s Newswire post, as Kotaku reports it. The PlayStation Store lists the game as “PS5 Pro Enhanced”.

What PSSR and ray-traced shadows change

Analysis PSSR draws each frame at a lower resolution and uses machine learning to rebuild a sharper image for your TV. On a 4K TV, that should mean cleaner edges and finer detail on things like palm leaves, wires and distant buildings, where a plain upscale looks soft or shimmers.

Ray-traced shadows are worked out from how light would really travel, instead of being drawn from shadow maps. They tend to look softer at the edges and more accurate under trees, cars and crowds, which Vice City has a lot of.

Neither changes how the game plays. Both consoles run the same game at the same 30fps target.

Why there’s no 60fps on the Pro

Analysis Tech analysts quoted by TechRadar point to the processor: a city this busy, with crowds, traffic and physics, loads the CPU, and the Pro’s processor is only a small step up from the PS5’s. Its bigger upgrade is the graphics chip, which is why the extras are about the picture. GamesRadar’s report on Sony’s announcement also notes that the Pro still won’t reach 60fps.

Storage: the Pro has more room

Analysis On an 825 GB PS5 you’ll probably have to delete something; on a Pro you almost certainly won’t. Our storage guide has every console.

Who should upgrade

Analysis Our advice, from what’s confirmed so far:

• You have a PS5 and a 1080p or basic 4K TV: keep it. You get the same game, frame rate and DualSense features.
• You have a PS5 and a large, good 4K TV: the Pro will look noticeably cleaner, but it won’t feel smoother. Only worth it if picture quality matters a lot to you.
• You’re buying your first console now: if the budget stretches, the Pro gives you the best-looking version on any console, plus far more storage.
• You want 60fps: don’t buy a Pro for that. Neither Rockstar nor Sony has announced a performance mode.

Check current prices on Sony’s PS5 Pro page and our console bundles list. Xbox owners can compare with our PS5 or Xbox guide.

Common questions

Can I move GTA 6 from a PS5 to a PS5 Pro later?

Analysis Yes, a digital PS5 game belongs to your account, so you can download it again on a Pro, or move it across with PS5’s data transfer. Your PS5 Pro picture improvements apply as soon as it runs there.

Do I need a PS5 Pro for GTA 6 Online?

Not announced Rockstar hasn’t said when GTA Online for GTA 6 arrives or what it needs. Nothing announced so far is Pro-only apart from the picture extras.

Is GTA 6 better on PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X?

Not announced Rockstar hasn’t published a resolution for either. The PS5 Pro is the only console with confirmed extras (PSSR and ray-traced shadows), and both target 30fps.