Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is still an absolute technical highlight on the standard PS5. Combining beautiful animation, fantastic modelling, and excellent lighting tech – including a pioneering implementation of RT reflections – the game still ranks among the best-looking titles on the platform. However, in classic current-gen fashion, developer Insomniac offers multiple modes, each with their own trade-offs in terms of graphical features, performance and image quality. The brand new PS5 Pro patch aims to make that choice a lot simpler, giving players the combination of RT reflections, fine image detail and 60fps performance on PS5 Pro. Does this upgrade elevate Rift Apart from its base console counterpart? And how close does it come to matching the PS5 fidelity mode?
The most relevant point of comparison with Pro is the base PS5’s performance RT mode, because both offerings run at 60fps and feature excellent RT reflections. This mode offers a 1440p-like image on PS5 and is arguably the best experience overall on the base console.
The biggest improvement on Pro comes down to the way the final image resolves, with PSSR upscaling taking Ratchet from circa 1584p to a full 4K final image versus a 1440p internal res on the base machine (Both modes make use of DRS and use lower-res post processing too). On fine elements of geometry, the difference can be stark, with the Pro resolving cleaner lines with more detail thanks to that higher internal resolution and better upscaling tech.
The performance RT mode features a substantial pass of post-process sharpening to give a greater perception of detail across the image. On PS5 Pro, there’s better overall detail, but without the artificial-looking edge ringing and additional breakup often associated with sharpening. According to Insomniac core technology director Mike Fitzgerald, the PSSR technique used on Pro resolves enough detail that the sharpening used on the base PS5 isn’t necessary.