Alan Wake II — PS5 & PS5 Pro performance
Technical analysis last updated
Alan Wake 2 on PS5 Pro showcases a significant visual upgrade over the base PS5 due to Sony's revised PSSR upscaling. In 60fps Performance Mode, an internal 864p image is reconstructed to 4K with far fewer visual artifacts, clean foliage, and stable ambient occlusion compared to the base console's FSR2 implementation. Quality Mode targets 30fps at ~1270p with ray tracing, offering subtle refinements to image clarity and texture detail. The PS5 Pro upgrade is particularly impactful for players favoring 60fps gameplay.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5 Pro
Alan Wake 2 serves as a key showcase for the revised PSSR upscaler on PS5 Pro. Performance Mode sees the biggest gains, transforming an 864p base resolution into a clean, convincing 4K presentation with eliminated foliage pixel crawl and ambient occlusion pulsing. Quality Mode adds ray tracing at 30fps with modest image stability improvements.
Utilizes upgraded PSSR to reconstruct 864p (Performance Mode) and 1270p (Quality Mode) internal resolutions up to 4K output.
Performance Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedReconstructs from 864p native resolution to 4K output via upgraded PSSR. Resolves indirect lighting pulsing, foliage pixel crawl, and overhead cable shimmer, with only minor pepper-like noise in distant high-frequency detail.
Quality Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedReconstructs from roughly 1270p base resolution to 4K output with ray tracing enabled. Offers subtle refinements in image stability and texture clarity over first-gen PSSR; ray tracing denoiser artifacts remain unchanged.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5
Base PS5 delivers an impressive graphical presentation. Quality mode is recommended for its 1270p internal resolution and richer settings, though forest scenes drop into the mid-20s. Performance mode targets 60fps from a low 847p base resolution.
Quality Mode
PS5UnverifiedHigher settings and cleaner image reconstruction from 1270p native resolution via FSR 2.
Performance Mode
PS5UnverifiedNoticeably soft image resolve with an internal resolution dropping down to 847p.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro
Side-by-side comparison of graphics modes, resolution and technical features.
The updated PSSR algorithm dramatically improves Alan Wake 2's 60fps Performance Mode on PS5 Pro, reconstructing an 864p image into a clean 4K output while eliminating severe foliage noise and ambient occlusion instability seen on base hardware.
| Metric | PS5 | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PSFoundry Score | 70Good | 76Good |
| Recommended mode | Quality Mode | Performance Mode |
| Modes available | 2 | 2 |
| Highest target FPS | 60 | 60 |
| Highest verified capability | 60 fps target | 60 fps target |
| PSSR | No | Yes |
| Ray tracing | No | Yes |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| 120 Hz support | No | No |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | No | Yes |
- PSFoundry Score
- 70Good
- Recommended mode
- Quality Mode
- Modes available
- 2
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- No
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- No
- PSFoundry Score
- 76Good
- Recommended mode
- Performance Mode
- Modes available
- 2
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- Yes
- Ray tracing
- Yes
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
Known issues
Ray-traced effects in Quality Mode display a stippled, noisy look due to the underlying denoiser, which cannot be corrected by PSSR upscaling alone.
Certain fine textures and distant foliage present a subtle pepper-like noise pattern under the updated PSSR algorithm.
PSSR upscaling exhibits jitter and film-grain-like noise in stationary shots, and struggles with fine subpixel detail like thin power lines.
PS5 Pro Performance mode runs approximately 3fps slower in dense forest environments compared to the base PS5 version.
PS5 struggles to maintain frame-rate targets in tough areas across both Quality and Performance modes, exceeding its GPU frame time budget.
Shadows exhibit noticeable aliasing and low resolution except at very close range.
Screen-space reflections show typical occlusion issues and present a grainy appearance.
Video analysis
Independent technical videos referenced in our analysis.
Alan Wake II | PS5 Pro | PSSR 2 Update. @TheGamesTester1312 likes15K ... Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - PS5/PS5 Pro - Digital Foundry Tech ...
Alan Wake II is one of the main games that benefit from some PS5 Pro features. · PS5 Pro adds ray-tracing reflections on opaque and transparent ...
Gameplay de Alan Wake II no PlayStation 5 PRO em 4K HDR 60FPS #AlanWake2 #PlayStation5 #PS5PRO #4KHDR.
Alan Wake II | PS5 Pro - PS5 - Xbox Series X - PC | Graphics Comparison. ElAnalistaDeBits•152K views · 16:54 · Go to channel The Dev Chair ...
Alan Wake 2 Gameplay PS5 60FPS Performance Mode captured in 4K Resolution with No Commentary. Alan Wake II is an survival horror game ...
Alan Wake II is a survival horror game developed by Remedy ... Go to channel Digital Foundry · Alan Wake 2 - PlayStation 5 DF Tech Review ...
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Sources and verification
Every technical claim on this page is attributed. Nothing is estimated.
PSFoundry is primarily a source-based database. A game is only marked as personally tested when PSFoundry has directly tested it. All other technical information is attributed to its original source.
- UnverifiedDigital Foundry analyzes Alan Wake 2 running on PS5 Pro with Sony's upgraded PSSR technology, demonstrating dramatic clarity gains and artifact reductions in Performance Mode alongside minor stabilityDigital Foundry2026-03-18
Digital Foundry analyzes Alan Wake 2 running on PS5 Pro with Sony's upgraded PSSR technology, demonstrating dramatic clarity gains and artifact reductions in Performance Mode alongside minor stability enhancements in Quality Mode.
Open source - UnverifiedDigital Foundry analyzes Alan Wake II on PS5 Pro, evaluating its PSSR upscaling, RT reflections implementation, and frame rate performance relative to base PS5 and PC.Digital Foundry2024-11-15
Digital Foundry analyzes Alan Wake II on PS5 Pro, evaluating its PSSR upscaling, RT reflections implementation, and frame rate performance relative to base PS5 and PC.
Open source - UnverifiedDigital Foundry analysis of Alan Wake II on consoles shows PS5 matching Xbox Series X in visual features and rendering resolutions, but trailing in frame-rate stability across both Quality (30fps) andDigital Foundry2023-10-31
Digital Foundry analysis of Alan Wake II on consoles shows PS5 matching Xbox Series X in visual features and rendering resolutions, but trailing in frame-rate stability across both Quality (30fps) and Performance (60fps) modes.
Open source
Frequently asked
Answers built from the verified data on this page.
What frame rate does Alan Wake II run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, Alan Wake II offers 2 graphics modes: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 4K; Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 4K.
What frame rate does Alan Wake II run at on PS5?
On PS5, Alan Wake II offers 2 graphics modes: Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 4K; Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1440p.
Does Alan Wake II use PSSR on PS5 Pro?
Yes. At least one PS5 Pro graphics mode of Alan Wake II uses PSSR, Sony's machine-learning upscaler, according to the sources cited in our analysis.
Is Alan Wake II worth playing on PS5 Pro?
The updated PSSR algorithm dramatically improves Alan Wake 2's 60fps Performance Mode on PS5 Pro, reconstructing an 864p image into a clean 4K output while eliminating severe foliage noise and ambient occlusion instability seen on base hardware.
What is the best graphics mode for Alan Wake II on PS5 Pro?
Best overall balance: Performance Mode — Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 4K. Best ray-traced image quality: Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 4K.
What is the PSFoundry Score of Alan Wake II?
Alan Wake II scores 76/100 on PS5 Pro. The PSFoundry Score measures technical performance only — frame rate, image quality, graphics modes, visual features, responsiveness, loading and stability — not how good the game is.
Patch history
Only updates that changed graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features.
We only log updates with a documented effect on graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features. None have been verified for this title yet.
The players' verdict
Recent player impressions of how the game runs on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
We publish player impressions from Reddit, ResetEra and specialist forums only when they discuss how the game actually runs. They never affect the PSFoundry Score.
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Browse the full PlayStation performance database or the PS5 Pro Enhanced games list.