Early adopters of the PS5 Pro have confirmed a new feature that Sony was hush about. The console ships with a setting called “Image Quality Enhancement”. According to the description, it supposedly enhances the image quality of PS4 games running on the console through backwards compatibility.
The setting doesn’t explain how the feature works. It simply says “Improve the quality of PS5 games to enjoy higher quality gameplay for some games. Turn this off if you experience unexpected behaviour during gameplay”. On paper, it sounds like an upscale. However, users who have tested it out say it acts more like an imager enhancer than an upscaler.
It doesn’t enhance the game’s resolution by any means. It also doesn’t increase the frame rate. Screenshots do, however, reveal a slightly sharper image in comparison to the setting being turned off.
If you look at this Bloodborne comparison, you’ll notice the HUD generally looks sharper and the texture in the distance includes a bit more detail. The lantern, for example, has a noticeable level of sharpness to the flame and the base. It isn’t so blurry.
Another image here shows the feature cleans up the foggy air to reveal a sharper image once again. The difference isn’t enough to make me believe this has been upscaled but it does look more like an AI enhancement tool.
Keep in mind that these images were taken from Bloodborne. It is the only game the user tested out with the feature. We will likely see more comparisons as more users get their hands on the console.
While Sony has not revealed the feature in any way yet, it is great to see it added to the PS5 Pro to support PS4 games. To what lengths it will go to enhance these games is still beyond me. However, with the PS5 Pro launch this week ahead, it is still exciting to see.
The PS5 Pro is expected to be released in South Africa on 13 December. The console was delayed in the country following regulator clearance. Pre-orders for the console are now available at retailers across SA. You can watch a full teardown of the console here revealing improved thermals and catch up on the full leaked specs thanks to the included manual here.
