We Asked the Monster Hunter and Sonic Devs About the PS5 Pro, and They Had Very Different Answers
The PlayStation 5 Pro has divided fans since it was announced in September, and game developers have differing outlooks on the new premium console as well.
Speaking with the developers behind Sonic the Hedgehog and Monster Hunter Wilds during Tokyo Game Show 2024 last weekend, each expressed interest in the added power the PS5 Pro affords. But when it comes to what it means for their individual games, their opinions start to diverge.
Monster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto errs on the positive side, saying that Wilds team knew they definitely wanted to support the PS5 Pro as soon as they learned about it. Developed on the powerful RE Engine, Monster Hunter has lately been known for its graphical prowess, making the PS5 Pro a natural fit.
"We didn't think there was an option to just leave it on the table. But we are getting great support from Sony in terms of helping us figure out what we're going to do with that. So it's an extra thing to think about as part of the development process, but we're excited for the possibilities," Tsujimoto says.
As we learned during our hands-on with the PS5 Pro last week, support for the platform can take many different forms. Most developers are introducing an enhanced mode that supports 4K resolution and high frame-rates, but other games, like Horizon, are much more granular. The team's indecision may mean that PS5 Pro support isn't available immediately at launch.
"We'd love to make it in time for launch, but we're very much in the middle of the process of deciding how that's going to look," Tsujimoto says.
Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka, meanwhile, is keeping his focus on the previous generation. He says that he wants "as many people as possible to play" Sonic games, which means continuing to support the PS4, which still boasts a very large fanbase.
We'd love to make it in time for launch, but we're very much in the middle of the process of deciding how that's going to look
He continues, "As a market, we have the high-end machines, high-end consoles. Coming out with those consoles, we feel that we can make newer Sonic games that can express the speed of Sonic and with much better gaming UI as well. However, we want to support the lower spec constants as well. So even though the PS5 Pro is coming out, or new innovations or technology are coming out, we feel that it is important to support with the lower spec consoles and let many of the users keep playing Sonic."
That includes continuing to support the Nintendo Switch, which is expected to have a next-generation update soon, but in the meantime continues to chug along in its seventh year. Iizuka says that Sonic will continue to pursue a middle path between high-end platforms like the PS5 and lower-end consoles like the Switch, with the series adding enhancements or making compromises where necessary.
As for the the PS5 Pro's $700 price point, which has been a hot topic among fans since its announcement, Iizuka acknowledges that it's "really expensive" on the face of it. Ultimately, though, it might be worth it.
"I feel that with the quality that they are providing it's not that expensive… And yeah, it would be really good for the high-end game users," Iizuka says.
Tsujimoto is likewise sanguine about the price. "The price isn't something we feel it's appropriate for us to comment on, but in terms of the capabilities, we think that it's definitely worthy of the Pro name. So we're excited to see what it can do."
Around 60 games are expected to support the PS5 Pro when it releases next month, including several first-party PlayStation games such as The Last of Us, Spider-Man, and Horizon: Forbidden West. You can read our PS5 Pro hands-on impressions here, where we talk about the impact of AI upscaling and other improvements.
The PS5 Pro releases on November 7. While you wait, check out the best games released in 2024 so far.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
