Sony's PlayStation State of Play presentations have gradually increased the prominence of PlayStation 5 Pro footage, with recent showcases featuring a significantly higher number of games running on the enhanced hardware. This trend suggests a strategic shift to highlight the Pro's capabilities, even as its overall market reception has been described as muted.
Initially, following the PS5 Pro's announcement, there was a conspicuous lack of direct promotion for the console during major reveals. Titles like Ghost of Yotei, announced in September 2024, did not feature Pro footage in their initial trailers, nor did their accompanying PlayStation Blog posts mention support. This pattern continued with Saros, a sci-fi shooter whose gameplay debut in September 2025 also omitted Pro-specific visuals, despite Housemarque confirming Pro enhancements earlier that year. Even a dedicated State of Play for Ghost of Yotei's gameplay debut in July 2025 did not reference the Pro.
One notable difference from the previous console generation is the absence of a universal, system-wide enhancement mode like the PS4 Pro's Boost Mode. While some PS5 games do benefit from the Pro's increased power, the boost is not as consistently applied as it was on its predecessor.
Shifting Visibility in State of Play
Despite the initial low profile, the visual cues for PS5 Pro have become more prevalent. The "Captured on PS5 Pro" text began appearing in February 2025 during a State of Play, marking the first instance of such direct in-showcase promotion. This presentation featured four games with Pro footage.
Subsequent showcases saw varying degrees of Pro visibility. A June 2025 State of Play showed Pro gameplay for only three titles, the lowest number to date. Later that year, in September 2025, another presentation returned to four games showcasing Pro enhancements.
The trend significantly accelerated in February 2024, when a State of Play presented eight titles running with Pro footage, an unusually high number that even included a 2D side-scroller, God of War Sons of Sparta. The most recent State of Play, in June 2024, slightly reduced this to seven games, still marking a considerable increase compared to earlier events.
Context and Market Reception
The increased visibility comes nearly two years after the PS5 Pro's launch. Hardware enthusiasts and industry observers have often questioned the necessity of a mid-generation upgrade, especially given the base PS5's significant power increase over the PS4 compared to the PS4 Pro's incremental boost over the base PS4. The PS4 and Xbox One era saw less powerful hardware, making a mid-generation upgrade more impactful. In contrast, the PS5 and its Pro variant operate in a market where games are longer to develop, leading to fewer native PS5 titles compared to the previous generation.
Adding to the Pro's subdued market presence is its pricing. Unlike the PS4 Pro, which launched at the same price as the base model, the PS5 Pro has consistently been more expensive. With neither console receiving price cuts and both experiencing increases, the Pro has not become the default option in the way the PS4 Pro did.
Looking ahead, it is speculated that Sony may be repositioning the PS5 Pro as a bridge for the next few years, potentially to navigate challenges like AI-induced chip shortages and high next-generation console costs. While further State of Play presentations this year are uncertain, any future showcases are likely to continue featuring increased PS5 Pro gameplay footage as the generation progresses.