PlayStation settings that can transform your console into 'PS5 Pro' in time for GTA 6
There are officially 10 days to go until the next Grand Theft Auto releases, and with it looking increasingly like it'll be the biggest video game of all time, 2026 is set to be one for the history books. GTA V was released back in 2013, going on to become the most profitable entertainment product of all time and making over $10 billion in revenue. GTA V was kept alive thanks to GTA Online, and while there's no news on what GTA VI's online contingent will involve, the fact it's tipped to make up to $5 billion in its first week alone is truly something.
The PS5 Pro is being heralded as the definitive way to play GTA VI, but that comes with a bit of a problem, considering they're like gold dust. Thankfully, there could be a way to turn your PlayStation into a 'Pro' without paying a ridiculous price tag for a souped-up gaming console.
GTA 6 release date
The big day is November 19 2026, with pre-load kicking off on November 10.
How to turn your PS5 into a 'Pro'
We recently covered how the addition of FSR 4.1 to Xbox Series consoles could act as a mid-generation refresh, but that depends on developers. It’s unclear whether Rockstar will add this tech to GTA VI, meaning the PS5 Pro still looks like the ultimate way to play.
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While tweaking settings on your PS5 won't turn it into the PS5 Pro (that's like claiming an OG Switch is a Switch 2), you can still make significant improvements. This is done by optimizing your base PS5's display, performance, and storage to ensure you get a smoother, high-fidelity experience.
Firstly, you'll want to enable 'Game Mode' on your TV or monitor to lower input lag and maximize refresh rates.
Then, go into your PS5 system settings and select Performance Mode to prioritize higher frame rates. Once this is done, you need to make sure your video output settings match your display's native resolution. Enable HDR and VRR if your television set supports them, hopefully eliminating screen tearing and smoothing out stutter.
Even though we're yet to get our hands on GTA VI, you should be able to fine-tune settings to replicate some of the Pro's prowess. Set contrast and brightness to balanced default layers, turn down heavy post-processing effects like motion blur, camera shake intensity, and depth of field, and adjust particle effect quality to a supposed 'sweet spot' of 20. This will keep action sequences running smoothly without obliterating frame rate.
Why is PS5 Pro the 'best' way to play GTA VI?
Rockstar and Sony have partnered to declare the PS5 Pro as the preferred way to play GTA VI, with the upcoming automotive adventure being officially tagged as 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' on the store. The PS5 Pro uses the AI-driven PSSR to accelerate upscaling technology. With this, PSSR lets the PS5 Pro render intense games like GTA VI at a lower internal resolution, saving performance and using machine learning to output a native-looking 4K image.
Fiddling with your PS5 settings is all well and good, but remember that the PS5 Pro has a GPU that's around 65% bigger than its bigger brother, also boasting 45% faster rendering capabilities.
The PS5 Pro has a better grasp of complex lighting, leading to better ray-traced reflections, ambient lighting, draw distances, and denser foliage or traffic without the fear of buckling.
As GTA games are notoriously CPU-heavy, the PS5 Pro should deliver more consistent frame rates.
Some experts are skeptical that even the PS5 Pro is likely to hit 60 FPS at launch, although a rock-solid 30 FPS should be locked in.
Finally, the fact that the PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB solid-state drive out of the box means you have plenty of room for GTA VI's chonky 212 GB required storage, as well as the rest of your catalog.
There are obvious benefits to having a PS5 Pro to play GTA VI, but with scalpers already making the most of the situation, and even GameStop selling PS5 Pros for $1,4000 as they're sold out at MSRP on the PS Store, a little tinkering beneath the hood of your base PS5 might be the best we can hope for right now.
