Spanish developers Hexworks also gave WCCFTech a free review of Sony’s half-generation console update.
Hexworks was founded in early 2020 to develop Lords of the Fallen, and they’re already preparing a sequel for release in 2026. Eduard Gonzales, Hexworks’ lead engine programmer, praised the PlayStation 5 Pro to WCCFTech: “The game runs on the highest graphics settings on PC (it’s true that you can get a higher frame rate on PC, but you need much more expensive hardware). The big thing is that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaler wasn’t even used!
“Unreal Engine 5 has enabled developers to increase triangle density in games by an order of magnitude. Achieving smooth frame rates with this level of visual detail took several iterations of both the engine and the content, but we’re now at a point where we can deliver a vastly improved experience that showcases the visual power of UE5. Building on this foundation, the PlayStation 5 Pro hardware upgrade is a significant step forward. It allows for further improvements in object visibility, texture density, and overall resolution, all while increasing frame rates. The PlayStation 5 was solid, but the PlayStation 5 Pro is truly exceptional hardware. It improves on the base PS5 in every way: a faster GPU, faster CPU, upgraded ray tracing units, additional memory, and dedicated machine learning hardware. If we had to highlight a single standout feature, it would be the GPU, which is a generation of hardware beyond the original,” said Gonzales.
How much better is the PlayStation 5 Pro than the previous ‘half’ console? “While the advancements are somewhat comparable, the PlayStation 5 Pro makes a more significant leap, especially with the introduction of custom machine learning hardware. This addition opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for visual and performance improvements. The improvement is noticeable, with a 40% increase in the game’s native rendering resolution. This improvement makes a significant difference, especially on 4K displays, where details are much more visible and high-end TVs really shine. In the PlayStation 5 Pro version of Lords of the Fallen, Performance Mode delivers rich visual detail at 4K60 (upscaled from 1440p) with a fluid 60 frames per second, as well as sharper distant detail and refined textures on characters and environments. For those playing in Quality Mode, this runs at a native 4K30, allowing up to showcase intricate visuals across the dual realms of Axiom and Umbral at a stable 30 FPS,” Gonzales said.
He also confirmed that PSSR will not be used: “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) is an impressive technology that offers quality comparable to DLSS and Unreal Engine 5’s built-in upscaling, with the added benefit of being embedded directly into the console, making it compatible with any engine. PSSR is undoubtedly a valuable addition. After extensive testing, we found no visual differences compared to our custom version of Unreal Engine 5’s upscaling, which is also very robust. Therefore, we decided to continue using our own upscaling method.”
Finally, Gonzales also talked about how much better value the PlayStation 5 Pro offers compared to PC: “The game uses the highest graphics settings available on PC. The main difference between the graphics modes is the native rendering resolution, which dynamically adjusts to the target frame rates – 60 fps for Performance Mode and 30 fps for Quality Mode. In short, you’ll get top-notch PC graphics on the PlayStation 5 Pro, but you’ll have to choose between native 4K at 30 FPS or upscaled 4K at 60 FPS.
Building a PC with comparable components – GPU, CPU, memory, and SSD – at a similar level of quality would be significantly more expensive, so it’s great to see Sony bringing this high-end hardware to a wider audience. Rest assured, our game runs great on the standard PlayStation 5, so if the PlayStation 5 Pro is out of your budget, you can still enjoy Lords of the Fallen, but if you do have the extra budget, the PlayStation 5 Pro really elevates the experience,” said Gonzales.
Those are pretty glowing words.
Source: WCCFTech
