Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro update shines in performance review despite ray tracing drawbacks

CD Projekt Red’s futuristic action RPG is the latest title to benefit from the flagship PlayStation console. Digital Foundry has posted a Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro performance review following the new patch. The upgraded PSSR and advanced ray tracing make a dramatic difference. On the other hand, some lighting effects still don’t realize the potential of the PC version.

A customizable Cyberpunk 2077 update

The Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro update introduces three new performance modes. The Ray Tracing Pro option boasts ray-traced reflections, ambient occlusion, and convincing shadows. On 60Hz monitors or TVs, 30 fps is the target, while on 120Hz displays, the frame rate bumps up to 40 fps. Digital Foundry observed brief dips below the higher mark in the most demanding scenes.

With PSSR upscaling 1440p to 4K, ray tracing delivers substantial improvements over the base console’s Quality Mode. Daytime lighting in outdoor city areas looks more natural. At night, the shift away from screen-space reflections produces neon billboards with a more authentic glow.

Unfortunately, even with a boosted GPU, there are limitations with the Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro update. Ray-traced reflections appear on windows and glossy car surfaces. Otherwise, the effects depend on older screen-space tech. Nevertheless, at a lower frame rate, the graphics rival those of a capable gaming PC.

Higher frame rates with minimal sacrifices

Ray Tracing Mode sacrifices some perks like global illumination to aim for 60 fps. At times, frame rates dropped slightly, but the action remained steady overall. Once again, PSSR upscales 1440p to 4K, with visuals much sharper than on the lower-end PS5. Digital Foundry believes this preset achieves a fine balance between fluid graphics and image quality.

If gamers prioritize low latency, the Performance Mode without enhanced lighting is the best choice. When VRR is active on compatible displays, the site measured 90 fps in many instances.

Digital Foundry was pleased with the Cyberpunk 2077 patch, though the performance review noted missed opportunities. The testers would have preferred an option for a complete ray tracing implementation, even at a lower resolution. Also, the PS5 Pro specs cannot entirely solve the pop-in issues visible in the open-world game.