Returnal PS5 Pro Upgrade Brings 2.5x Resolution Boost and Smoother Performance — With a Few Hitches
Housemarque’s surprise Returnal PS5 Pro upgrade delivers major resolution and frame-rate improvements, but stops short of adding visual features from the PC version.
Returnal PS5 Pro Patch Delivers a Big Visual Boost, But It’s Not Without Trade-Offs
To celebrate the fourth anniversary of Returnal, developer Housemarque has dropped a surprise free upgrade for PlayStation 5 Pro users. The update boosts the game’s resolution by up to 2.5x and adds dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) — a first for the title on console. While the patch doesn’t bring flashy new features like ray tracing or a 120Hz mode, it does make Returnal feel noticeably sharper and more stable overall.
Here’s what’s changed — and what hasn’t.
📈 From 1080p Static to Dynamic 1728p Resolution
The original PS5 version of Returnal ran at a fixed 1080p, reconstructed to 1440p, and then upscaled to 4K via checkerboarding. This setup, while functional, led to noticeable image grain, shimmering edges, and occasional softness in fine details.
With the PS5 Pro patch, the game now dynamically scales resolution based on GPU load, peaking at 3072×1728 and dipping as low as 2400×1350 in heavier scenes like boss fights. That’s roughly a 2.56x increase in pixel count over the base version — more than the “2.5x” promised by Housemarque.
Even if you don’t stop to pixel peep during combat, the difference is there: sharper details, fewer moiré patterns on textured surfaces, and reduced flickering during flashy particle-heavy sequences.
⚙️ No Visual Feature Additions (But It Still Looks Great)
Disappointingly, the update doesn’t include PC-exclusive features like ray-traced reflections or higher-quality volumetrics. Nor does it offer a 120Hz performance mode, even at reduced resolution. It’s a straight resolution and performance upgrade — no visual toggles, no extra bells and whistles.
Textures, shadows, lighting effects, and post-processing are identical to the base PS5 version. The only noticeable improvements stem from the higher resolution and dynamic scaling, which make the most of PS5 Pro’s increased GPU power.
🎮 Performance: Mostly Better, With One Caveat
One of the biggest benefits of the upgrade is performance stability. On the base PS5, Returnal ran at 60 FPS most of the time, but had minor drops during boss fights and occasional traversal hiccups. Frame dips into the 50s were rare but real — particularly in the Tower of Sisyphus or on respawning at the ship.
On PS5 Pro, these same areas now maintain a much more consistent 60 FPS. Thanks to DRS, the console can dynamically scale down the resolution during intense effects to hold that frame-rate line.
However, a small new issue has emerged: 50ms frame-time hitches during certain enemy hits or quick resolution shifts. These micro-stutters are subtle, but frequent enough to be noticed by sensitive players — possibly a side effect of the new DRS system adjusting too quickly under load.
🧪 Stress Testing and Early Impressions
Over several days of testing through the game’s first three biomes and the Tower, no major frame-rate drops were found outside of the known traversal hitches and rare microstutters. That said, due to Returnal’s procedurally generated design, players may encounter more demanding combinations in later runs.
Interestingly, some ResetEra users have reported better results using the unpatched PS5 version on PS5 Pro hardware, as the base 1080p rendering might avoid the Pro patch’s resolution hitches altogether. But for most, the visual clarity and extra stability offered by the new patch outweigh those rare regressions.
📝 What’s in the PS5 Pro Upgrade?
- ✅ Resolution boost to 3072×1728 with DRS
- ✅ Smoother 60 FPS during intense battles
- ✅ Sharper visuals with less shimmering and aliasing
- ❌ No new graphics options (no 120Hz mode or RT)
- ⚠️ Mild stutter on enemy hits due to DRS shifts
- 🎮 Same assets and effects as base PS5 version
🎉 Verdict: A Solid Upgrade Worth Revisiting
Returnal on PS5 Pro isn’t a total overhaul — but it doesn’t need to be. The enhanced resolution and more stable performance alone are a meaningful improvement that makes an already stunning game look and feel even better.
It may not be the most ambitious use of PS5 Pro hardware, but it’s a welcome excuse to dive back into one of the best roguelike shooters of the generation — and it’s completely free for existing owners.
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