CD Projekt Red is giving Cyberpunk 2077 a serious second wind on console with a free PS5 Pro update landing April 8. The patch brings PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling, a new ray-tracing pipeline enabled by BVH8, and three new graphics modes that finally let PS5 Pro owners choose between maxed-out lighting, high frame rates, or a smart middle ground.
For a game that’s spent years clawing its way from “cautionary tale” to “modern RPG staple,” this is CDPR making a statement: Night City still matters—and PS5 Pro owners are about to get the cleanest, sharpest console version yet.
The Big Deal: PSSR Upscaling Meets a New Ray-Tracing Backbone
The headline feature is PSSR support, Sony’s AI-driven upscaling tech designed to push sharper output without brute-forcing native resolution. CDPR’s goal here is straightforward: deliver the sharpest visuals of Cyberpunk 2077 running on console, while keeping performance targets realistic for a dense open world packed with reflections, neon, and motion-heavy first-person combat.
Under the hood, the more technically spicy addition is BVH8 (8-way Bounding Volume Hierarchy). CDPR is explicit that this is a key enabler for bringing ray tracing to PS5 Pro in the way they want—essentially a structural upgrade that helps make ray-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections feasible on the hardware. The studio’s own framing is that this pushes Night City’s lighting closer to its intended artistic vision, and if you’ve ever wandered through a rain-slicked street under a mess of holograms and signage, you already know why that matters.
It’s also worth underlining what this update is—and isn’t. The patch is focused on image quality and ray tracing options, not a sweeping attempt to mirror the most extreme PC features. There’s discussion that CDPR prioritized image quality rather than going further into heavier ray-tracing territory like path tracing, meaning PS5 Pro is getting a major upgrade, but it’s not suddenly becoming a high-end PC replacement.
Three PS5 Pro Graphics Modes: Ray Tracing Pro, Ray Tracing, and Performance
CDPR isn’t just flipping a “PS5 Pro Enhanced” switch and calling it a day. This update adds three performance profiles, and the differences are meaningful—especially if you have a VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) display.
Here’s what’s on offer:
Ray Tracing Pro Mode (Maximum RT, Lower FPS Target)
This is the “turn it all on” option. Ray Tracing Pro enables all available ray tracing enhancements and targets 30 FPS in standard conditions. With a VRR-compatible display, it can target 40 FPS.
If you’re the kind of player who treats Night City like a screenshot safari—soaking in reflections, lighting transitions, and moody interiors—this is the prestige mode. The tradeoff is obvious: it’s not built around the snappiest combat feel.
Ray Tracing Mode (The Sweet Spot)
The standard Ray Tracing mode is positioned as the balanced option: it enables select ray tracing enhancements while targeting 60 FPS.
Notably, CDPR has indicated this is their preferred way to play on PS5 Pro, and it’s easy to see why. Cyberpunk 2077 lives and dies on responsiveness—gunplay, quickhacks, driving, and chaotic street fights all feel better at 60. If this mode really does deliver a strong RT look while holding that performance line, it’s the one most players should start with.
Performance Mode (Highest Frame Rate, No Ray Tracing)
Performance mode targets 60 FPS without ray tracing, and on VRR displays it can go beyond 60, with CDPR citing up to 90 FPS as the upper reach.
This is the mode for players who want the most fluid version of Cyberpunk on console—period. And it’s not being positioned as a “compromise mode,” either: removing ray tracing pressure can still result in a crisp final image, and for many players, smoothness is the feature.
Why This Patch Matters (Especially Given CDPR’s Earlier Stance)
What makes this update extra noteworthy is the context: CDPR previously indicated it didn’t have plans to take advantage of PS5 Pro’s extra horsepower when asked in late 2024. Fast forward to now, and we’ve got a full-on PS5 Pro-specific upgrade with PSSR and multiple ray tracing profiles.
That shift matters for two reasons.
First, it’s a sign that CDPR still sees value in keeping Cyberpunk 2077 technologically current on console, even years after launch. Second, it’s a reminder that PS5 Pro’s selling point isn’t just raw power—it’s the combination of hardware headroom plus platform-level tech like PSSR, which developers can use to chase cleaner image quality without sacrificing frame rate targets.
And let’s be honest: Cyberpunk 2077 is the perfect showcase. Night City is basically a stress test disguised as an RPG—dense geometry, heavy lighting, reflective surfaces everywhere, and constant motion. If you want to prove your upscaler and ray-tracing pipeline are the real deal, you ship an upgrade for this game.
Release Timing, Price, and Where to Play
The PS5 Pro upgrade arrives April 8 as a free update for players who already own Cyberpunk 2077.
And for players who don’t own it outright, the base game is also available as part of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium catalog (availability can vary over time, but it’s currently included as part of that library).
As for what’s included beyond the PS5 Pro enhancements—additional content, new quests, or gameplay changes—this update is being framed around visual and performance improvements, not new story drops.
What Remains Unknown
Even with CDPR outlining the big-ticket features, there are still a few practical questions hanging in the air:
- Exact patch version number and full changelog details beyond the PS5 Pro-focused features have not been fully confirmed here.
- Specific ray tracing feature breakdown for “select enhancements” in the 60 FPS Ray Tracing mode hasn’t been exhaustively detailed in the available information.
- Whether additional console options fans often request (like a console FOV slider or mod support) are part of this update has not been confirmed—and community chatter suggests those remain unlikely.
- How consistently the modes hold their targets across the most demanding scenes (dense crowds, combat-heavy areas, high-speed driving) will come down to hands-on testing.
If you’ve been waiting for the moment Cyberpunk 2077 truly feels “next-gen” on PlayStation hardware without the usual console compromises, April 8 is the day to reinstall. The PS5 Pro finally gets a version of Night City that’s built to flex—whether you care most about ray-traced atmosphere, razor-sharp image quality via PSSR, or frame rates that push into the 90 FPS range with VRR.
