Returnal — PS5 & PS5 Pro performance
Technical analysis last updated
Returnal targets 60fps across PS5 and PS5 Pro with no visual mode toggles. On base PS5, the game renders at a static 1080p temporally reconstructed to 1440p and checkerboard upscaled to 4K, accompanied by minor frame drops into the mid-50s during heavy combat and respawns. The PS5 Pro upgrade replaces the fixed 1080p resolution with dynamic resolution scaling ranging from 1350p to 1728p, dramatically improving clarity and eliminating combat frame drops. Ray tracing features from the PC version remain absent on both consoles. The Pro patch represents a significant image quality and stability upgrade over base PS5.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5 Pro
PS5 Pro substantially improves visual clarity by replacing static 1080p rendering with dynamic resolution scaling up to 1728p. Frame rates are effectively locked to 60fps during heavy encounters, though occasional 50ms frame-time hitches occur when attacking enemies.
Adds dynamic resolution scaling from 1350p to 1728p and locks performance tightly to 60fps in previously dropped boss fight scenarios.
Default Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedDynamic resolution scaling ranging from 2400x1350 in intense boss fights up to 3072x1728 peak resolution, upscaling to 4K output. Significantly reduces aliasing and moire artifacts compared to base PS5.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5
Base PS5 delivers a solid 60fps target using a static 1080p resolution upscaled to 4K via temporal reconstruction and checkerboard rendering. Heavy particle effects and boss fights can trigger brief drops into the mid-50s, alongside minor traversal stutter between biomes.
Default Mode
PS5UnverifiedStatic 1080p base resolution temporally reconstructed to 1440p and checkerboard upscaled to 4K. Shows high-frequency pixel noise and moire patterns on fine details.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro
Side-by-side comparison of graphics modes, resolution and technical features.
Returnal on PS5 Pro provides up to a 2.56x internal resolution boost (scaling from 1350p to 1728p via DRS) compared to base PS5's static 1080p, resulting in a much cleaner 4K presentation. Boss fights and intensive battles that previously dipped into the 50s on base PS5 are now locked to 60fps.
| Metric | PS5 | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PSFoundry Score | 70Good | 81Great |
| Recommended mode | Default Mode | Default Mode |
| Modes available | 1 | 1 |
| Highest target FPS | 60 | 60 |
| Highest verified capability | 60 fps target | 60 fps target |
| PSSR | No | No |
| Ray tracing | No | No |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| 120 Hz support | No | No |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | No | Yes |
- PSFoundry Score
- 70Good
- Recommended mode
- Default Mode
- Modes available
- 1
- 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
- 81Great
- Recommended mode
- Default Mode
- Modes available
- 1
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- No
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
Known issues
A minor frame-time spike to 50ms (dropped frames) occasionally occurs right as an attack connects with an enemy on PS5 Pro.
Brief one-frame stutter blips occur when moving between different areas and biomes.
Performance can drop into the 50-60 fps range when dense particle effects fill the screen or during environmental traversal.
Temporal reconstruction and checkerboard upscaling cause visible moiré patterns on specular surfaces such as wet ground and water.
FSR upscaling causes particle effects to break up, flicker, and look soft during action scenarios.
Frame rate can dip below the 60fps target during demanding combat encounters.
Real-time cutscenes drop to 30fps while pre-rendered cutscenes run at 24fps.
Video analysis
Independent technical videos referenced in our analysis.
This is a game where you are attempting to break the cycle as to say you are stuck in a NeverEnding Loop of memories some gained some lost some forgot.
Join Alex Battaglia for a deep dive into the fascinating PC port of the PlayStation 5 masterpiece, Returnal. This is a PC version with so ...
Returnal is one of the best sounding games. The sounds are addictive. I know John would appreciate that.
Returnal uses an heavily modified unreal engine 4, and runs at 1080P on base PS5. Saros runs at around 1250P on base PS5, and it's again an ...
PS5 Pro is an improvement over the base model in holding 60 fps plus we're getting a sharper image into the bargain too.
Housemarque's PlayStation 5 exclusive - Returnal - has launched it's something very, very special. Join Alex Battaglia and John Linneman for ...
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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.
- UnverifiedHousemarque released a free PS5 Pro upgrade for Returnal that boosts internal resolution up to 1728p via dynamic resolution scaling and fixes 60fps drops seen on base PS5, though no extra visual featuDigital Foundry2025-05-04
Housemarque released a free PS5 Pro upgrade for Returnal that boosts internal resolution up to 1728p via dynamic resolution scaling and fixes 60fps drops seen on base PS5, though no extra visual features like ray tracing or 120Hz output were added.
Open source - UnverifiedReturnal on PS5 targets 60 fps using temporal reconstruction to 1440p and a checkerboarding pass to output at 2160p. PS5 hardware ray tracing is leveraged to accelerate global illumination queries andDigital Foundry2021-04-30
Returnal on PS5 targets 60 fps using temporal reconstruction to 1440p and a checkerboarding pass to output at 2160p. PS5 hardware ray tracing is leveraged to accelerate global illumination queries and 3D audio environment processing.
Open source - UnverifiedSaros delivers a visually distinct action experience built on Unreal Engine 5 that prioritizes 60fps performance over heavy features like Nanite and Lumen RT. On PS5 Pro, PSSR upscaling cleanly reconsDigital Foundry2026-04-24
Saros delivers a visually distinct action experience built on Unreal Engine 5 that prioritizes 60fps performance over heavy features like Nanite and Lumen RT. On PS5 Pro, PSSR upscaling cleanly reconstructs a 1440p base to 4K display resolution with exceptional particle stability. The standard PS5 targets 60fps at ~1224p internal resolution using FSR upscaling, though image quality suffers from softness, shimmering, and motion breakup during particle-heavy combat.
Open source
Frequently asked
Answers built from the verified data on this page.
What frame rate does Returnal run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, Returnal offers 1 graphics mode: Default Mode targets 60 FPS at 4K.
What frame rate does Returnal run at on PS5?
On PS5, Returnal offers 1 graphics mode: Default Mode targets 60 FPS at 4K.
Is Returnal worth playing on PS5 Pro?
Returnal on PS5 Pro provides up to a 2.56x internal resolution boost (scaling from 1350p to 1728p via DRS) compared to base PS5's static 1080p, resulting in a much cleaner 4K presentation. Boss fights and intensive battles that previously dipped into the 50s on base PS5 are now locked to 60fps.
What is the best graphics mode for Returnal on PS5 Pro?
Best overall balance: Default Mode — Default Mode targets 60 FPS at 4K.
What is the PSFoundry Score of Returnal?
Returnal scores 81/100 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.