Sony is set to allow developers to ship free PS5 Pro Enhanced patches, matching the free upgrade path used when PS4 games moved to PS5.
Sony positioned the PS5 Pro as a hardware and software package that can boost frame rates and resolution for existing titles, and developers have begun delivering those upgrades, free of charge. We expect more titles to follow through 2026.
This is exciting because free upgrades extend the value of games users already own. Players gain better visuals or smoother performance without extra cost. Developers can leverage the Pro’s stronger GPU and new AI upscaling to deliver clearer 4K images or higher frame rates, improving immersion and replay value.
Housemarque has already released a free PS5 Pro upgrade for Returnal, reporting up to 2.5x resolution improvements on Pro hardware, plus performance gains that make the game feel fresher, with more titles set to get a Pro-themed upgrade in the near future.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Sony is also working on a PSSR 2.0 update, due between January and March 2026, which should further stabilise upscaling and reduce artefacts.
What players should do
Before downloading any updates, players should check game pages for the “PS5 Pro Enhanced” tag and ensure they back up their saves before applying major patches.
It is also worth keeping a close eye on patch notes for specific performance or visual mode changes, as some updates may prioritise resolution over frame rate or vice versa.
Finally, a little patience is advised when these updates begin to drop, as the initial rollout may vary across different titles.
