Fans are still excitedly awaiting news regarding the PlayStation 5's main console features. Up until now, Sony's focused purely on the PS5's hardware, as well as some basic ideas like backward compatibility. Its full feature-set is likely being held back for the PS5's full reveal in the next few months. Impatient leakers are willing to fill PlayStation fans in, for the meantime. According to a new leak, the PS5 will feature something called a "Boost Mode," which will improve PS4 games being run on the new console.
Twitter user PSErebus is claiming to have the insider scoop regarding PS5's boost mode, though they don't refer to any sources. The boost mode feature will allow certain games to have improved visuals and frame rates. This is perhaps similar to Xbox's "Optimized for Xbox Series X" branding, but for PS5. The PS4 Pro also features a boost mode for standard PS4 games.
PSErebus also has a list of games he says are confirmed to feature Boost Mode for Ps5. These are PS4 games that will be given boost mode so that they perform better on PS5. The list includes: Grand Turismo Sport, Killzone Shadow Fall, Control, Death Stranding, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Remastered, Horizon Zero Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, Resident Evil 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Borderlands 3, Dreams, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, God of War, Infamous: Second Son, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part 2.
According to PSErebus, boost mode for all of these PS4 games will be available on November 20, which the leaker claims is the PS5 release date.
What's also unclear is whether PS4 gamers will be able to upgrade their games to the boost mode versions on PS5 for free. PSErebus does later say that "You will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version of certain PlayStation 4 games releasing this year for free," but doesn't clarify whether this includes the boost mode games or not. It seems likely that there will be some crossover but many if not most boost mode game upgrades to PS5 will not be free. Time will tell.
Another detail that's left unexplored is if boost mode is a special upgrade for certain PS4 games and if there's a different kind of performance upgrade that will be more standard. For example, if out of 100 PS4 games that run on PS5 only 30 have improved frame rates and loading times but only 10 have improved visuals via boost mode. There's also the possibility that this leak is entirely made up, which must be kept in mind. Fans will just have to wait until Sony reveals more official PS5 details later this year.
The PS5 releases holiday 2020.