PS5 update means the console is catching up with Xbox Series X framerates
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Sony has released a new beta update for the PS5 that finally brings Variable Refresh Rate to 1440p resolution on the console, and you can even apply it to “unsupported games.”
While some of the best ps5 games Being able to hit 120 fps at 4K resolutions, they’re in the minority. After this update, many more will be able to hit that frame rate while playing at 1440p. VRR, which dynamically scales the display resolution to prioritize the frame rate in the target resolution, was previously only available in 4K on console.
The official PlayStation blog post (opens in new tab) goes into the details of what the new PS5 beta firmware can do.
The beta not only brings VRR to 1440p displays, but also activates the Auto Low Latency mode, which was previously only available in 4K. Modern screens often have built-in image processing capabilities that make movies and TV shows look their best on your screen. However, those processes can cause lag on your screen, which you don’t want while gaming. Auto Low Latency Mode turns off that image processing when you’re gaming. Now, 1440p screens too will keep gameplay as fast and smooth as possible with minimal sacrifices to image quality.
This is especially great news for those who own one of the best monitors for PS5 rather than one of the best gaming TVs. That’s because high refresh rate 1440p displays are significantly less expensive than the premium price tags associated with 4K120 panels. This firmware update means more people will have the chance to see their games run significantly faster, so play competitively with games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 could get a lot more fun on the system.
We first saw 1440p coming to the PS5 in September 2022, but with the notable absence of VRR and ALLM. By comparison, the Xbox Series X launched with native 1440p support at higher refresh rates, so it’s good to see Sony has now caught up by offering more choices for its platform. Time will tell how many PS5 games will benefit from the new update. Hopefully this opens the gates to more special performance modes in 1440p.
Some recently released games, such as the Empty space remake, scale from 4K to 1440p when performance mode is enabled. Checking this box disables ray tracing and more advanced visual effects while maintaining 60 fps. Now this update could mean higher frame rates for those with monitors that can go above the previous limit. Time will tell how developers get the most out of this technology coming to the platform.