Sony has announced the release date for its upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology on the PS5 Pro. They highlighted Assassin’s Creed Shadows as a key showcase for this enhanced upscaling system. This gives PS5 Pro owners a clear timeline for witnessing the hardware’s improved upscaling capabilities, which go beyond what was available at the console’s launch in November 2024.
PSSR is Sony’s machine-learning upscaling solution that goes head-to-head with Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR on PC. The new version is set to offer sharper image reconstruction and less artifacting compared to the original PSSR. By specifically naming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Sony suggests that Ubisoft has collaborated closely with their engineering teams on the implementation. TechRadar reports that Sony describes the improvements as “significant.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched on March 20, 2025, and despite a mixed reception, it has seen impressive engagement numbers. Within six weeks of its release, Ubisoft reported 4 billion enemies defeated and 334 million hours played across all platforms. These stats indicate a large active player base, even if sentiment on Steam has dipped. The game utilizes Ubisoft’s AnvilNext engine, known for being demanding on hardware, making it a solid test case for upscaling technology.
The PS5 Pro debuted at $699.99, with PSSR as its standout feature compared to the standard PS5. An upgraded PSSR that enhances visuals on a prominent title like Shadows strengthens Sony’s case for the hardware’s value. This is crucial as the PS5 Pro faces scrutiny regarding its price-to-performance ratio. It’s still unclear whether this upgrade will retroactively apply to other PSSR-enabled games or if developers will need to issue individual patches.
On PC, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is currently available for $0.99 on Steam, indicating aggressive discounting as Ubisoft aims to expand its player base before releasing post-launch content. The game’s coverage across various outlets related to the PSSR announcement shows that Sony is leveraging third-party titles to promote PS5 Pro hardware upgrades instead of relying only on their own games.
| AC Shadows Launch Date | March 20, 2025 |
| Enemies Killed (6 weeks) | 4 billion |
| Hours Played | 334 million |
| Cats Petted | 26 million |
| PS5 Pro Launch Price | $699.99 |
Community feedback on Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Steam has been largely negative, especially concerning DLC pricing. One reviewer noted, “Avoid. If you hunt to get 100% completions, prepare to shell out $90 USD in DLC to get the last achievement for that hundo.” Despite this, players have still logged hundreds of millions of hours on console. However, this situation complicates Ubisoft’s narrative on PC as they seek goodwill after several high-profile missteps.
What To Watch
- Whether Sony will announce a specific rollout date and if the upgraded PSSR will come as a system-wide update or require individual patches from developers like Ubisoft.
- How well the visual enhancements hold up in independent analyses. Outlets like Digital Foundry will likely compare the original PSSR with the upgraded version on Shadows once it’s released.
- Ubisoft’s strategy regarding DLC and pricing for Shadows on PC. The $0.99 base price and the backlash regarding achievement gating suggest that the publisher is still working to stabilize the game’s commercial performance.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
