CD Projekt Red has revealed a significant visual upgrade for Cyberpunk 2077 on PlayStation 5 Pro, arriving on 8 April. The complimentary update leverages the console’s advanced hardware capabilities to offer 4K visuals, enhanced ray tracing, and improved performance across Night City. Kuba Knapik, VP and Art Director at CD Projekt Red, stated the studio has integrated cutting-edge technologies including PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and BVH8 ray tracing technology to enhance the game’s engaging gameplay. The enhancement arrives at a timely juncture, with Cyberpunk 2077 now available through the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, ensuring PS5 Pro owners can access the enhanced edition immediately upon release.
Night City’s technological advancement
The PS5 Pro update introduces PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), a revolutionary upscaling technology that processes each pixel individually using sophisticated machine learning. This meticulous approach ensures every element of Night City — from thermal katanas to street-level characters and turbocharged automobiles — achieves unprecedented visual clarity. The result transforms the game’s already immersive cyberpunk aesthetic into something remarkably lifelike, with textures and details once unattainable on standard hardware now displayed with impressive detail across the complete virtual landscape.
Lighting forms the visual cornerstone of Cyberpunk 2077’s character, and the PS5 Pro upgrade strengthens this core element through BVH8 support for ray-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections. The implementation enables sunlight to authentically interact with surfaces, neon signs to cast realistic glows, and environmental lighting to change fluidly as day transitions to dusk. This technical advancement brings the creators’ initial artistic intent closer to realisation, intensifying player engagement as they traverse Night City’s expansive thoroughfares and discover secrets hidden within its dark passages.
- Ray Tracing Pro mode provides superior image quality at 40 fps on VRR displays
- Performance mode emphasises seamless, responsive performance with highest possible frame rates
- Ray-traced reflections, ambient occlusion, and emissive lighting all fully active
- Multiple display options provide compatibility across different gaming setups
Three distinct play modes suitable for everyone
Ray Tracing Pro: Maximum visual fidelity
Ray Tracing Pro embodies the pinnacle of visual achievement on PS5 Pro, allowing every available ray tracing feature simultaneously. This mode implements reflected ray tracing, ambient occlusion, skylight, shadows, and light emission to create an unmatched graphical display. Players employing VRR-compatible displays can enjoy the improved visuals whilst preserving a smooth 40 frames per second, whilst those with standard displays view the full visual spectacle at 30 fps. This mode serves players who value visual quality over everything else.
The comprehensive ray tracing implementation in this mode reshapes Night City into a visually stunning environment where light responds realistically. Every puddle reflection, every shadow thrown by massive megacorporation structures, and every glowing neon light reflecting from chrome surfaces enhances an deeply engaging visual feast. For gamers possessing the hardware to support it, Ray Tracing Pro delivers Cyberpunk 2077 as the creators intended it, demonstrating the maximum performance of both the game and the PS5 Pro’s advanced capabilities.
Performance mode: Speed and responsiveness
Performance mode emphasises smooth, responsive gameplay for gamers prioritising frame rate consistency rather than visual flourishes. This mode minimises ray tracing features to deliver the maximum frame rate available, guaranteeing every action feels responsive and instantaneous. On variable refresh rate displays, players can expect exceptionally high frame rates that make combat, driving, and exploration feel remarkably snappy. This mode works best for those playing competitively or players who find higher frame rates boost their gaming experience and engagement.
By focusing computational resources on sustaining optimal performance rather than advanced lighting effects, Performance mode ensures Cyberpunk 2077 runs with outstanding fluidity across all gameplay scenarios. Whether traversing crowded city areas or engaging in intense firefights, players encounter minimal frame rate fluctuations. This mode reflects CD Projekt Red’s commitment to accommodating diverse player preferences, acknowledging that some gamers derive greater satisfaction from quick inputs and smooth gameplay than from maximal graphical fidelity.
Ray Tracing mode: The equilibrium approach
Ray Tracing mode achieves equilibrium between graphics fidelity and frame rate stability, using selective ray tracing enhancements without straining the hardware. This middle-ground strategy allows players to enjoy substantial visual enhancements whilst sustaining reliable frame speeds that keep gameplay feeling responsive. Ray Tracing mode enables important illumination effects that markedly elevate Night City’s aesthetic presentation without compromising on the stable, seamless performance many players need for satisfying play experience. It constitutes the ideal compromise for those reluctant to decide between beauty and performance.
| Mode | Frame Rate | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Tracing Pro | 40 fps (VRR) / 30 fps (standard) | All ray tracing effects including reflections, ambient occlusion, shadows, skylight, and emissive lighting |
| Ray Tracing | 60 fps (VRR) / 40 fps (standard) | Selective ray tracing enhancements with balanced visual quality and performance |
| Performance | Maximum available fps | Minimal ray tracing for maximum frame rate and responsive gameplay |
| PSSR Technology | All modes | AI-powered upscaling delivering 4K visuals across every mode |
Cutting-edge rendering systems driving the improvement
The PlayStation 5 Pro enhancement to Cyberpunk 2077 leverages multiple cutting-edge rendering technologies working in concert to deliver exceptional visual fidelity. At the foundation lies PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-powered upscaling system that carefully processes each pixel individually. This advanced technology smartly rebuilds imagery to achieve true 4K resolution, ensuring that every detail across Night City—from shiny car finishes to intricate architectural elements—appears crisp and defined. The result surpasses traditional upscaling methods, delivering clarity that rivals direct rendering whilst maintaining the performance headroom required by other demanding visual systems.
Complementing PSSR is the implementation of BVH8 (8-way Bounding Volume Hierarchy) ray-tracing system, a essential innovation in how the game calculates light behavior within its surroundings. This technology facilitates far more sophisticated ray-traced reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion calculations, allowing light to play across Night City’s surfaces with unprecedented realism. The improved ray-tracing technology captures fine lighting variations—how neon signage reflects off rain-slicked streets, how shadows created by towering megastructures move through the day, and how emissive materials glow with authentic intensity. Together, these technologies create an immersive visual experience that truly embodies the game’s cyberpunk aesthetic vision.
- PSSR upscaling generates native 4K visuals leveraging advanced artificial intelligence algorithms
- BVH8 ray tracing enables complex light calculations producing reflections and shadows
- Enhanced ambient occlusion strengthens visual depth and environmental realism throughout Night City
- Dynamic lighting and emission technology produce genuine environmental and neon effects
- Multiple rendering modes accommodate user preferences and hardware configurations
Accessibility and community influence
The PlayStation 5 Pro update represents a significant milestone for the wider Cyberpunk 2077 player base, particularly given the game’s present access through PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. This strategic positioning ensures that PS5 Pro owners are able to enjoy the enhanced visual overhaul without requiring a separate purchase, expanding availability to cutting-edge graphical technology. CD PROJEKT RED’s dedication to providing this update as a free upgrade underscores the studio’s dedication to rewarding player loyalty and ensuring that the community benefits equally from hardware advancements. The timing of this release, coinciding with the game’s incorporation into subscription services, optimises its penetration of the player base.
Beyond visual improvements, the addition of multiple performance modes addresses varying player needs and accessibility considerations. By offering distinct configurations ranging from Ray Tracing Pro to Performance mode, the update supports varying display technologies and individual gaming priorities. This inclusive approach recognises that not all players prioritise the same elements of their gaming experience—some prioritise maximum visual fidelity whilst others favour fluid, responsive gameplay. Such flexibility enhances player engagement by guaranteeing that players with different hardware setups and preferences can all experience Night City at its best, fostering a more cohesive and content player base across the PlayStation ecosystem.