Starfield on PS5 Pro Is No Lazy Port; PSSR, Adaptive Triggers With Unique Weapon Feel, and a 60 FPS Mode

Alessio Palumbo
A Starfield character in a helmet holding a futuristic weapon labeled RTM-200 X3 with on-image text reading 'Adaptive triggers support: weapon resistance' and an image of a Sony DualSense controller.

Bethesda Game Studios has revealed the specifications of Starfield's imminent PlayStation 5 release. Owners of the PS5 Pro hardware will be able to choose from two modes:

  • Pro Visual, which targets a 4K resolution output to maximize visual fidelity at 30 frames per second
  • Pro Performance Mode, which targets 60 frames per second for a smoother gameplay experience

Both modes integrate PS5 Pro's PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaler. Bethesda didn't clarify whether it's the first or newly released iteration of the upscaler, but it doesn't matter that much, as there is a system toggle that PS5 Pro users can enable to upgrade PSSR-supported games like Starfield to the latest version of the algorithm.

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All PlayStation 5 consoles, including the base model, support SSD optimization, Trophies, and the full suite of DualSense controller features.

  • Adaptive Triggers: These adaptive triggers provide the controller's L2 and R2 buttons with physical resistance and feedback, giving different types of weapons (both ground-based and starship-based) their own unique feel.
  • Light Bar: The DualSense light bar keeps pace with the action in Starfield, changing color to reflect the player character's health on the ground or the starship's status in space, pulsing red when there's imminent danger and returning to white once health is recovered.
  • Touchpad: Quick presses and swipes make it easier to stay in the flow while exploring. Players can switch POVs by pressing the left side; open the map by pressing the right side; press and hold the right side to activate your hand scanner; and swipe in different directions to access key menus such as Inventory, Missions, and Skills.
  • Controller speaker: Audio logs and ship intercom chatter play directly through the DualSense controller speaker, boosting immersion by making the players feel as if they're truly receiving the communications via radio.

It is currently unclear whether the DualSense features will also be available on the PC version of Starfield when using the controller.

Starfield is out for PlayStation 5 on Monday, April 6. At the same time, Bethesda will release the Free Lanes update and the Terrain Armada DLC; you can learn all about them in an overview plus developer interview with Tim Lamb available here.

Alessio Palumbo Photo

About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.

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