First "8K" games for PlayStation 5 Pro are not actually 8K

The first 8K games for PS5 Pro do not actually render at 8K, and there are technical challenges related to 8K TVs, but you may still notice improvements, according to one game developer.

The original PlayStation 5 was marketed as 8K capable, but in 2024, Sony quietly removed references to 8K.

The company recently launched the upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro and is once again claiming support for 8K. This time, the console can in fact output in 8K over HDMI 2.1 – but that is not the full story.


First "8K" games for PS5 Pro
As part of Sony and game developers' initiative to enhance games for PlayStation 5 Pro through patches, five PS5 games have been announced so far as 8K compatible:
The Callisto Protocol (8K 30fps, with ray tracing)
F1 24 (8K 60fps)
Gran Turismo 7 (8K 60fps)
No Man’s Sky (8K 30fps)
Redacted (8K 60fps)
The 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' patches that add the 8K output mode – along with enhanced 4K output modes featuring high frame rates and/or ray tracing – are available now for The Callisto Protocol, F1 24, No Man's Sky and Redacted. The patch for Gran Turismo 7 has not yet been released.


Not compatible with every 8K TV
PlayStation 5 Pro is not 8K-compatible with all current 8K TVs, which owners should keep in mind.

The issue lies in the console's use of signal compression (DSC) to deliver 8K over HDMI 2.1. For example, Sony's own Z9J 8K TV does not support DSC over HDMI 2.1, meaning it cannot display the PS5 Pro's 8K output. It maxes out at 4K.


 PS5 Pro supports 8K on paper but there are several challenges. Photo: Sony

Not actually 8K
As always, there is more to the story, as none of the games actually render at 8K resolution – PlayStation 5 Pro is not powerful enough.

Instead, the 8K output is achieved through upscaling and picture enhancement, specifically the PS5 Pro's new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which is an AI-based and hardware-accelerated video enhancement system.

A game engine developer for No Man's Sky confirms that the game's 8K mode renders at "slightly above 4K", meaning up to 2700p (4K is 2160p), according to analysis by Digital Foundry. F1 24 renders at around 4K resolution, while The Callisto Protocol reportedly uses dynamic resolution up to 6K, depending on the scene. The upcoming 8K mode for Gran Turismo 7 is described as "experimental" by the developer.

This is the opposite of cases such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps, which renders at 6K internally on Xbox Series X before being downscaled to 4K for HDMI output, or The Touryst, the first – and possibly only – game to render at 8K on PS5, also downscaled to 4K for HDMI output. At this time, The Touryst has not been updated to take advantage of the extra power in PS5 Pro.


 No Man's Sky running at 8K on PS5 Pro: Screenshot: Hello Games

But still better?
Like 120fps, which cannot be achieved consistently in most console games, you could argue that PS5 Pro's 8K support is about taking advantage of the resolution range between 4K and 8K.

And it is visible, according to Martin Griffiths, a game engine programmer involved in the PS5 Pro patch for No Man's Sky.

- "There is a continuous, repeated narrative and group think that no one can tell the difference between 4K and 8K, or that you need some monster TV for 8K to notice the extra resolution. I completely reset my world view on this, while implementing the 8K, PS5 Pro support for No Mans Sky. Objectively, I found it to be a very noticeable step up visually, even "just" with PSSR and a slightly above 4K source, driving the final display output," wrote Martin Griffiths on X.

While the benefits of 8K are widely doubted in Hollywood, largely due to the very low 24fps frame rate for movies and series, we are not quite so sure that the benefits are doubted among gamers, who enjoy games at high resolution and frame rates much closer to the screen.


8K to become mainstream with PS6?
Griffiths added that he expects 8K to become more mainstream by the time the PlayStation 6 arrives, which will likely happen in 2026 or 2027.

- "I now believe that 8K will be much more mainstream by the PS6 era, as content that demonstrates the difference filters through and display panel prices fall," Griffiths wrote.

Griffiths used a 55-inch Samsung QN700C 8K LCD TV, which is not actually capable of reproducing 8K due to sub-pixel rendering that sacrifices effective resolution to improve viewing angles.

Yeah, you should probably still hold out on buying an 8K TV.