PlayStation 4 owners are already excited for the console's upcoming firmware update thanks to Sony finally allowing games on an external storage device, but another rumored feature of the version 4.5 software could be especially useful to those with a PS4 Pro.
Beta testers appear to have uncovered a "Game Boost" feature for the PS4 Pro which allows the powered-up console to devote more power to older games - even if they weren't patched for better performance on the 4K-capable Pro, according to Eurogamer.
Going off testers' description of the feature, Game Boost "improve(s) gameplay, including higher frame rates, for some games that were released before the introduction of PS4 Pro (CUH-7000 series)."
The feature also adds that Game Boost should be turned if "any unexpected behavior" in encountered, meaning that mileage may vary depending on the game and that not all games can be optimized by the feature.
Going Pro
Certain games like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided patched in HDR support and improved resolutions after the PS4 Pro's launch, allowing them to take more advantage of the console's superior guts.
However, older games in the PS4 library without such a patch - while still compatible - don't fully utilize the hardware's improved GPU, running effectively the same on the Pro as they would a regular PS4.
Game Boost will seemingly lend those games extra power once the firmware goes live, meaning smoother performance and potentially faster load times - though don't expect games built with a 30fps cap to suddenly break off its chains and run at 60fps.
Curious what the extra 'oomph' might look like? This video below, courtesy of Noel Underson, claims to compare a normal and Game Boosted scene of The Evil Within - a 2014 PS4 title that did not receive a post-Pro support patch:
