PS5 Pro Is Getting a Major Upscaling Upgrade — Here's Everything You Need to Know
Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro has already made waves since its launch, positioning itself as the premium console for players who want the best possible visual experience without making the leap to PC gaming. But according to a recent report from Engadget, the PS5 Pro is about to get even better — and the secret weapon is an upgraded upscaling technology arriving in March 2026.
If you're a current PS5 Pro owner, this is genuinely exciting news. And if you've been sitting on the fence about whether to upgrade from a standard PS5, this update might just tip the scales. Let's break down exactly what's happening, what it means for your games, and whether it's worth your attention.
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What Is Upscaling Technology and Why Does It Matter?
Before we dive into the specifics of what Sony is rolling out, it helps to understand why upscaling matters so much in modern gaming.
Upscaling is the process of taking a lower-resolution image and intelligently boosting it to a higher resolution — in many cases, all the way up to 4K or even 8K output. Instead of rendering every single pixel at full native resolution (which is enormously taxing on hardware), upscaling lets the GPU render at a lower resolution and then use algorithms to reconstruct a high-quality image.
The result? You get visuals that look nearly as sharp as native 4K while maintaining much higher, smoother frame rates. It's one of the most impactful technologies in modern gaming, and it's what separates an average experience from a premium one.
The PS5 Pro already ships with Sony's proprietary PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, which was a significant upgrade over what the standard PS5 offered. But the upcoming March update is set to refine this further, bringing improvements that developers and players alike have been requesting since launch.
What's Changing in the March 2026 Update?
According to the Engadget report, Sony is pushing forward with enhanced upscaling capabilities for the PS5 Pro. Here's what players can expect from the update:
- Improved temporal stability — Fewer ghosting artifacts and flickering, especially in fast-moving scenes
- Better edge reconstruction — Sharper, cleaner lines around character models, foliage, and fine details
- Enhanced performance mode visuals — Games running in 60fps or 120fps Performance modes should see a noticeable visual boost
- Reduced shimmer in motion — A common complaint with early upscaling implementations that creates a distracting shimmer on thin objects like grass or hair
Think of it as Sony essentially patching in a smarter brain for the visual processing pipeline. The underlying hardware stays the same — what changes is how efficiently and intelligently that hardware uses what it has.
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How Does PSSR Stack Up Against the Competition?
The upscaling wars in gaming are very real. Here's a quick look at how Sony's technology compares to the industry's leading solutions:
NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling)
Currently considered the gold standard in upscaling, DLSS uses dedicated Tensor Cores and a neural network trained on massive datasets. DLSS 3.5 and beyond have set a benchmark that all other technologies are measured against.
AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)
FSR is an open-source upscaling solution available across a wide range of hardware. It's more universally compatible but generally doesn't match DLSS in quality at lower input resolutions.
Intel XeSS (Xe Super Sampling)
Intel's answer to DLSS, XeSS performs well on Arc GPUs but is also available on non-Intel hardware with somewhat reduced effectiveness.
Sony PSSR
PSSR was Sony's first serious entry into hardware-accelerated AI upscaling at the console level. The March 2026 update is expected to close the gap with DLSS in specific areas — particularly temporal stability and motion clarity — making it a much more compelling technology for the living room gaming experience.
Which Games Will Benefit the Most?
Not every game will benefit equally from the improved upscaling tech. The biggest winners are likely to be:
- Open-world RPGs — Titles with dense foliage, draw distances, and complex lighting systems (think large fantasy or sci-fi worlds)
- First-person shooters — Where edge clarity and motion stability directly impact competitive performance
- Racing simulations — High-speed motion is notoriously hard on upscaling algorithms, and this update specifically targets that weakness
- Horror and atmospheric games — Fine details in dark environments, like dust particles or ambient textures, will render more crisply
If you own a PS5 Pro and play any of these genres regularly, you'll likely notice a tangible difference after the update is applied — no new hardware purchase required.
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Should You Upgrade to PS5 Pro Just for This?
Here's the honest take: if you're currently rocking a standard PS5 and are satisfied with your gaming experience, the March upscaling update alone probably isn't enough reason to spend the extra money on a PS5 Pro.
However, if you:
- Have a high-quality 4K HDR television (65 inches or larger)
- Regularly play graphically demanding games
- Value frame rate consistency alongside visual quality
- Find yourself frequently switching between Performance and Quality modes hoping for a better middle ground
...then the PS5 Pro, especially with this updated PSSR implementation, becomes a significantly more compelling proposition.
The PS5 Pro was already the best console hardware on the market at launch. The March upscaling upgrade simply makes the argument for it even stronger in 2026.
What This Means for the Broader Console Market
Sony continuing to invest in software-level improvements for the PS5 Pro sends a clear message: the company isn't treating the Pro as a finished product but as a platform it intends to actively improve over time.
This is a smart move. As Microsoft continues to grow its Game Pass ecosystem and PC gaming remains a constant competitor, Sony needs to justify the PS5 Pro's premium price point with ongoing value — not just launch-day specs.
The upgraded upscaling update is exactly the kind of post-launch improvement that builds long-term consumer trust. It shows that buying into Sony's ecosystem today doesn't mean you're locked into the same experience years from now.
The Bottom Line
The PS5 Pro's March 2026 upscaling upgrade is one of those updates that quietly makes a major difference. It's not a flashy new game or a headline-grabbing hardware reveal — it's Sony doing the careful, methodical work of making an already impressive machine even better.
If you own a PS5 Pro, mark your calendar for March and make sure your system is set to update automatically. If you're still on the fence about the Pro, this update adds one more strong reason to seriously consider making the move.
Either way, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best years to be a PlayStation gamer — and updates like this are exactly why.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PSSR on the PS5 Pro? PSSR stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, Sony's proprietary AI-powered upscaling technology exclusive to the PS5 Pro. It renders games at a lower resolution and uses algorithms to reconstruct a sharper, near-4K image, enabling higher frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.
When is the PS5 Pro upscaling update coming out? According to Engadget, the upgraded upscaling update for the PS5 Pro is scheduled to arrive in March 2026. Sony hasn't confirmed an exact date, so keeping your system set to auto-update is the easiest way to ensure you receive it as soon as it's available.
Is PSSR better than DLSS? As of early 2026, NVIDIA's DLSS is still generally considered the top upscaling solution in terms of image quality — particularly due to its dedicated AI hardware and years of training data. However, PSSR has been steadily improving, and the March update is expected to close the gap meaningfully, especially in motion stability and edge clarity.
Do all PS5 Pro games support PSSR? Not all games support PSSR natively — developers need to implement it in their titles. Many major releases have added PSSR support since the PS5 Pro launched, and that list continues to grow. The March update improves PSSR quality across all supported titles automatically.
Is the PS5 Pro worth buying in 2026? If you have a high-quality 4K display and play graphically demanding games regularly, the PS5 Pro offers a noticeably better experience than the standard PS5. The March upscaling upgrade makes it an even stronger value proposition for players who prioritize visual fidelity and frame rate performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PSSR on the PS5 Pro?
PSSR stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, Sony's proprietary AI-powered upscaling technology exclusive to the PS5 Pro. It renders games at a lower resolution and uses algorithms to reconstruct a sharper, near-4K image, enabling higher frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.
When is the PS5 Pro upscaling update coming out?
According to Engadget, the upgraded upscaling update for the PS5 Pro is scheduled to arrive in March 2026. Sony hasn't confirmed an exact date, so keeping your system set to auto-update is the easiest way to ensure you receive it as soon as it's available.
Is PSSR better than DLSS?
As of early 2026, NVIDIA's DLSS is still generally considered the top upscaling solution in terms of image quality — particularly due to its dedicated AI hardware and years of training data. However, PSSR has been steadily improving, and the March update is expected to close the gap meaningfully, especially in motion stability and edge clarity.
Do all PS5 Pro games support PSSR?
Not all games support PSSR natively — developers need to implement it in their titles. Many major releases have added PSSR support since the PS5 Pro launched, and that list continues to grow. The March update improves PSSR quality across all supported titles automatically.
Is the PS5 Pro worth buying in 2026?
If you have a high-quality 4K display and play graphically demanding games regularly, the PS5 Pro offers a noticeably better experience than the standard PS5. The March upscaling upgrade makes it an even stronger value proposition for players who prioritize visual fidelity and frame rate performance.
