PlayStation 5 Pro has divided fans since its launch in September, and game developers also have different views on the up-to-date premium console.
Speaking with the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog and Monster Hunter Wilds at Tokyo Game Show 2024 this past weekend, each expressed interest in the additional power that PS5 Pro provides. However, when it comes to what this means for individual matches, their opinions start to diverge.
Monster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto is positively wrong, claiming that the Wilds team knew they definitely wanted to support the PS5 Pro as soon as they found out about it. Developed on the powerful RE engine, Monster Hunter has recently been known for its graphical performance, making PS5 Pro a natural fit.
“We didn’t think there was an option to leave it on the table. But we’re getting a lot of support from Sony to help us figure out what we’re going to do with it. So this is an additional thing to think about. about it as part of the development process, but we are excited about the possibilities,” says Tsujimoto.
As we learned in our PS5 Pro hands-on last week, support for the platform can come in many forms. Most developers introduce an enhanced mode that supports 4K resolution and high frame rates, but other games like Horizon are much more detailed. The team’s indecision may mean that PS5 Pro support will not be available immediately at launch.
“We would like to make it in time for the premiere, but we are in the process of deciding what it will look like,” says Tsujimoto.
Meanwhile, Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka is focusing on the previous generation. He says he wants “as many people as possible to play” Sonic games, which means continuing to support the PS4, which still boasts a very enormous fan base.
He continues: “As a market, we have high-end machines and high-end consoles. Coming out with these consoles, we feel that we can create newer Sonic games that will be able to express Sonic’s speed and with a much better gaming UI as well, but we want to also support lower spec consoles. Therefore, even if PS5 Pro is released or new innovations or technologies emerge, we believe it is important to support lower spec consoles and enable many people. users still play Sonic.”
This includes continuing to support the Nintendo Switch, which is expected to receive a next-gen update soon, but in the meantime, its seventh year of existence continues to be in high demand. Iizuka says Sonic will continue to follow a middle path between high-end platforms like the PS5 and low-end consoles like the Switch, with the series adding improvements or compromising where necessary.
As for the PS5 Pro’s $700 price tag, which has been a heated topic among fans since it was announced, Iizuka admits that it’s “really expensive” at first glance. Ultimately, however, it may pay off.
“I think considering the quality they provide, it’s not that expensive… And yes, it would be really good for high-end gaming users,” Iizuka says.
Tsujimoto is also bullish about the price. “Price is not something we feel is worth commenting on, but when it comes to capabilities, we think it definitely deserves the Pro tag. So we can’t wait to see what he can do.”
When the PS5 Pro launches next month, around 60 games are expected to run on the PS5 Pro, including several first-party PlayStation titles such as The Last of Us, Spider-Man, and Horizon: Forbidden West. You can read our hands-on impressions of the PS5 Pro here, where we discuss the impact of AI scaling and other improvements.
The premiere of PS5 Pro will take place on November 7. While you wait, check out the best games released so far in 2024.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s news director and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Got a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
