Since the launch of the PS5 Pro, Sony has made a clear promise: more power, better image quality, and above all, AI-powered upscaling through PSSR. However, the official claim that over 50 titles use the technology—likely a maximum of 59, otherwise they would say 60—sounds impressive in a PR statement, but upon closer inspection, it seems more like a status update than a revolution.
The console has been on the market since November 7, 2024. So we're talking about a runtime of roughly 15 months. Reaching 50 optimized games in that time translates to three to four releases per month. That's not a complete failure, but it's also not the dominant market standard we were promised. Looking at how many games were released for the PS5 in 2025 alone, it becomes clear: only a fraction of these releases benefit from PSSR.
Many of these 50 titles are technically ambitious productions with high budgets. AI upscaling makes perfect sense in these cases, as shader load, ray tracing, and dynamic resolutions reach their limits. Nevertheless, an unpleasant impression remains: PSSR is treated like an optional patch, not as a system-wide feature as initially suggested.
The enthusiastic user knows these typical after-work sessions: a 50 GB update is downloading, the console is running hot, and the controller is sticky from an energy drink, all while they dive into the settings to see if "PSSR enabled" actually makes a visible difference. To a casual observer, like a partner shaking their head at the screen, the question is simple: why doesn't the game just look good without a patch? That’s precisely the crux of the problem—marketing sells the technology as a walk in the park, but the reality often feels like a chore of configuration.
PSSR 2.0: A technical reboot or just damage control?
With the upgrade to PSSR 2.0, Sony is clearly addressing two primary weaknesses: motion artifacts and the complex integration process for developers. According to [official statements], the new version is designed to be integrated more seamlessly into existing development pipelines.
That sounds like a pragmatic step. The biggest obstacle to wider adoption isn't the hardware, but the development effort. Studios have to invest time, conduct tests, and allocate QA resources. In an industry already under intense time pressure, an optional feature quickly becomes a low-priority task—a leftover on the development roadmap.
In terms of quality, the 50 supported titles are probably precisely those games where the effort is worthwhile. PSSR's impact is clearly visible there. But that also means it remains a selective solution. No automatic boost for the entire library, no magic switch for old classics.
Sony speaks of an AI strategy. Put more critically, this means: The technology exists, but it lacks penetration. True system relevance only arises when new releases default to PSSR 2.0 as a standard, rather than just a few high-profile blockbusters following suit.
50 games in the context of 2025 sounds like a small number
In 2025, an estimated several hundred relevant titles were released for the PS5. If only around 50 of these officially received PSSR support, then we're talking about a clearly limited impact. The feature remains well below 20 percent of releases. The vision of AI-powered image enhancement as the default setting is therefore not yet a reality. Instead, PSSR currently functions as a premium add-on for select titles.
I'll eat my hat if PSSR 2.0 is suddenly automatically enabled in every major release within a few months. Production processes in studios are too sluggish, the technical dependencies too complex, and priorities too heavily focused on content rather than engine optimization.
And yet, one shouldn't dismiss Sony's progress outright. The 50 titles at least demonstrate that an ecosystem is forming. The only question is whether this ecosystem will scale or remain a small technological island. Certainly, the PS5 Pro can't be reduced to just this one feature, as it demonstrably delivers better performance. But that's only half the marketing promise.
A feature on hold
The figure of "over 50 games" sounds like a success story. In reality, however, it also reveals the limitations of the current implementation of PS5 Pro and PSSR. The technology is there, but the breadth of support is lacking. As long as PSSR remains an optional feature, which apparently also applies to PSSR 2.0, and developers have to actively implement it, it won't be an automatic game-changer. And if support doesn't grow significantly faster, there's a risk that the technology, while well-intentioned, will ultimately fall short of its potential.
Ultimately, it's not the PR hype that matters, but its integration into the mass of upcoming releases. Currently, PSSR 2.0 sounds more like a powerful tool with too little reach – and that could prove to be a hindrance to the future of the PS5 Pro.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the author. They do not necessarily reflect everyone's perspective – and are intended to stimulate discussion.
60 FPS is incredibly smooth. 4K 60 FPS is perfect 🙏🌅