PS5 Pro’s PSSR 2.0 Upgrade Makes Its Debut With Resident Evil Requiem

If you own a PS5 Pro, this is the moment where you finally feel like that extra power is starting to matter. Resident Evil Requiem is now the first game to use the upgraded version of PSSR, and the difference is not subtle. Right now, it is the only title running the new version, which makes things a little awkward, but the full rollout is coming in March. That broader update is the real centerpiece, yet what you can already see in Resident Evil Requiem gives you a clear idea of what is about to change.

When you compare PSSR 1.0 to 2.0 side by side, the improvement stands out immediately. If you pay attention to image reconstruction tech like FSR, DLSS, and similar tools, you know that most of the time, the differences blur together. Across the board, they often look close enough that it does not dramatically change your experience. This time, however, the jump between PSSR 1.0 and 2.0 is obvious. It is cleaner and more defined in a way that you notice right away.

Hair rendering is where the upgrade really shows itself. That detail matters because there was already controversy around hair tech in Resident Evil 4's remake. The RE Engine introduced individual hair strands, but many players felt the older hair cap method actually looked better in motion.

On console, there was no option to switch it, while PC players had more flexibility.

With Resident Evil Requiem, that issue appears to be resolved. Under PSSR 1.0, hair can look slightly muddy, shimmery, and just a bit soft overall. Under PSSR 2.0, you can make out individual strands much more clearly. It is a direct, visible upgrade over the previous version.

For now, it is more difficult to assess frame rate gains. Running PSSR 1.0 and 2.0 concurrently on the PS5 Pro for a controlled comparison is not feasible. Furthermore, Resident Evil Requiem is already incredibly well optimized. On a variety of platforms, such as the Switch 2, Steam Deck, PS5, and PS5 Pro, it performs admirably. This kind of polished, well-optimized game doesn't put too much strain on the hardware. Better benchmarks would be games that put more strain on the console, like Metal Gear Solid Delta or Silent Hill 2.

One concern leading up to this update was whether developers would need to patch their games individually to support the new version of PSSR.

That process costs money and resources, and there was doubt that every studio would commit to it. Sony appears to have anticipated that issue. Instead of relying on developers, the company has enabled the upgraded PSSR through a system-level toggle. You can simply head into your PS5 settings and enable the enhanced PSSR resolution option yourself.

That means even if games like Silent Hill 2 or Metal Gear Solid Delta never receive dedicated patches, you can still activate the new PSSR version directly from your system menu. If the results match what you are seeing in Resident Evil Requiem, this could be the update that finally justifies the PS5 Pro's existence.

Looking back, it feels like this feature should have been ready at launch.

One of the biggest criticisms of the PS5 Pro has been the lack of games that truly demand its hardware. Now, roughly a year after release, major first-party PlayStation titles are arriving, some of which are reportedly not launching on PC. That would have been the ideal time to push the upgraded hardware. Even so, if you already have a PS5 Pro, this update represents a significant boost. The visual improvements in Resident Evil Requiem are clear, the toggle is simple to use, and the console finally feels like it is delivering on its promise.