Select games will receive a frame rate boost on PlayStation 4 Pro

By Gabe Gurwin September 8, 2016

Get ready for 4K resolution and HDR support with the recently announced PlayStation 4 Pro console, which can upscale several current PlayStation titles to make use of the new processing power, but a selection of games will also see a frame rate boost, as well.

Rise of the Tomb Raider, which launched last year on Xbox platformers before making its way to PC and PlayStation 4 this year, will give PS4 Pro players the ability to choose between 4K resolution and a locked 30 frames per second, and a 1080p resolution with an unlocked frame rate that will hit around 45 frames per second. A third option available on the PlayStation 4 Pro also turns on enhanced visual effects while still locking the game at 30 frames per second and 1080p. The options can also be adjusted at will, in case a particular section of the game warrants 4K resolution.

“The night time scenes benefit from a little extra lighting,” Crystal Dynamics’ Scott Amos told USGamer. “Then you get to the vistas, these long horizons and sunsets, and you say, ‘let’s go to 4K.’ You can play with these things depending on your mood.”

Last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops III will also receive an update to raise the frame rate on the PlayStation 4 Pro, but don’t expect these improvements to carry over into the competitive space.

Speaking to Game Informer after the console’s unveiling, Naughty Dog lead programmer Christian Gyrling stated, unequivocally, that there is “definitely no frame rate advantage” on the PlayStation 4 Pro. Though some character models and shapes may appear clearer to a player using the new console and a beefy television, the resolution difference will be negligible for a competitive advantage, but this isn’t the case with higher frame rates.

“Obviously there will be a few pixels and details for them,” but we don’t perceive that as being a huge advantage,” he adds.

The PlayStation 4 Pro launches on November 10.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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