Should You Invest in PS5 Pro just for GTA 6?

It won’t be a wrong statement if we say that Rockstar has a long history of pushing consoles to their limits. GTA V is the classic example of this when it was launched at the tail end of the PS3's life cycle, and its performance was quickly outpaced by next-gen consoles. The PS4 and PS4 Pro gave the game new life, with sharper visuals and more stable performance. It's almost certain that GTA 6, which will be launched in 2025, will put even the latest hardware to the test. But is this argument enough to convince you to put a strain on your pockets and invest in the PS5 Pro? 

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: What is the Actual Difference?

Whether PS5 Pro is a good investment or not, this argument requires a base to begin with, which is what makes PS5 Pro a pro machine over the traditional PS5. Sony officially launched it in November 2024 with a hefty price tag of $699, which was roughly $300 more than the original one. During that time, it had already been more than a year since GTA 6 was announced. Thus, there was hardly any discussion around GTA 6 on PS5 Pro, but more on the next hearing about the game, which was already in limbo.

As per the specifications, PS5 Pro comes with a stronger graphics chip and faster memory, which makes the game elements render at a faster rate. As per the Tom's Hardware report, you can witness an improvement of around 45% in smooth rendering. In addition to that, it even introduces new features such as AI upscaling. For those who don’t know, this helps games to look like they’re running at a higher resolution (up to 4k) even if actual games support only 1080p, which saves processing power.

What to Look Forward to in GTA 6 on the Pro

So, what does all this mean for GTA 6 specifically? Well, seeing past trends from Rockstar Games, they have mostly tended to target 30 FPS for their big open-world games, which was the case in GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Although consoles have upgraded over time but we have seen no changes in terms of frame rate improvement. Those games largely stayed at 30 FPS, but the Pro’s extra power went into crisper and more refined resolutions.

Although I hope I am proven wrong, unfortunately, it will be no different case for GTA 6 as well. Yes, there will be significant improvement; the Pro is likely to run GTA 6 at a higher internal resolution, let's say a full 4K, and with nicer textures or effects, compared to the standard PS5 version, but frame rate and smoothness will be more or less unchanged.

Now, some of you may argue, How come a device capable of handling 4K resolution and textures could not see improvement in frame rates? Well, the answer is: The GPU improvement has nothing to do with CPU functioning. Let me explain: all the real-time simulation that you see on screen demands heavy CPU computing.

This demand is even more crucial in the case of GTA 6, which is going to depict real-life-like cities and NPCs. Imagine all those complex computations, which have to be done by PS5 Pro, which has almost the same CPU (only 10% more improved) as the standard PS5. So, maybe you will get a balanced visual experience but not FPS beyond a threshold.

Should You Invest in PS5 Pro for GTA 6?

The very basic and acceptable answer to this will be, It depends. However, we won’t go the easy way, and let's try to make some sense. See, the main question here is, do you identify yourself as a casual gamer or not? If so, then trust me, there is nothing better than the default PS5. The base console will run GTA 6 just fine, and you won’t feel left behind in terms of gameplay or graphics on a typical TV.

One more factor is timing. The Pro is out now, but GTA 6 comes in 2026. If you have a base PS5, you could play all current games now and revisit the upgrade question later. By 2026, PS5 Pro titles will be more common, and you might find deals or used options. If you must have the best visuals from day one of GTA 6, then the Pro makes sense. If not, you are not going to miss much even if you wait a bit. Either way, GTA 6 in 2026 should be an amazing experience.

Written By:  Ashish Jha, India Today Gaming