If a PS5 Pro game looks soft, smears while you move, or shimmers around fine details, start by comparing that game’s PSSR setting and graphics modes—not by assuming the console or HDMI cable is faulty. Sony’s upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) is intended to improve detail and image stability, but the result depends on the title. If the entire display flickers or loses signal, troubleshoot the HDMI and video-output connection separately.
Why PSSR may look different from one game to another
PSSR is Sony’s upscaling library: it analyzes each frame pixel by pixel to reconstruct an image. Sony says the upgraded version aims for more precise reconstruction, steadier images in motion, clearer fine details, and more consistent performance across supported titles. Those are goals, not a guarantee that every scene will look sharper. Sony explicitly says results vary by title. Sony’s March 16, 2026 announcement describes the upgraded support, while its PS5 Pro page carries the title-dependent qualification.
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Game support and graphics mode matter. Sony named Silent Hill f, Monster Hunter Wilds, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Crimson Desert among games receiving upgraded PSSR support, but that does not mean every mode in every game uses the same image-reconstruction path. A soft image, motion smear, shimmer on fine textures, and whole-screen flicker are also different symptoms; they should not be treated as proof of one shared fault.
First, tell an in-game artifact from a display signal problem
- Only one game or scene looks soft, smeary, or shimmery: Treat it initially as a title- or mode-specific image issue. Compare settings in that game using the same scene and camera movement.
- The entire screen flickers, blanks, or loses signal—including outside the game: Check the HDMI connection and video-output settings. Sony’s signal troubleshooting addresses display-wide flicker and connection faults, not PSSR reconstruction artifacts.
This distinction is a practical way to choose which troubleshooting path to try; it is not a diagnosis of the internal cause of any particular game’s image.
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Compare the PS5 Pro’s PSSR setting and the game’s modes
Toggle “Enhance PSSR Image Quality”
- On PS5 Pro, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Find Enhance PSSR Image Quality. Compare the game with the setting enabled and disabled, if the option is available.
- Return to the same scene and repeat the same camera movement. Change only this setting during the comparison, and note fine-detail clarity, stability in motion, frame-rate feel, and any title-specific glitches.
Sony describes the option as applying to certain PSSR-compatible games and warns that results vary by title. It is therefore a comparison to make, not a universal “on” or “off” recommendation. See Sony’s PS5 Pro game-support guidance for information on the setting and supported games.
Check the game’s graphics mode and support
Review the game’s in-game graphics options and current patch notes. Different modes may make different trade-offs, and the system-level option does not establish that every game or mode will respond identically. Sony’s March 2026 announcement lists examples of games receiving upgraded PSSR support; check the individual game’s current information for its available modes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install available system and game updates
Check for available PS5 system software and game updates. Sony introduced broad support for upgraded PSSR through its March 16, 2026 system software announcement, and individual games need title support. An update may add or change support, but do not assume it will fix a specific blur or shimmer unless the game’s developer says that it addresses the issue.
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If the whole display flickers or loses signal
For symptoms that affect the display beyond one game or appear as flicker, blanking, or signal loss, follow Sony’s connection troubleshooting rather than treating them as a PSSR setting issue:
- Connect the PS5 Pro directly to the TV or display instead of routing it through another device.
- Try another HDMI port or cable.
- Check whether the TV or display has a firmware update.
- If the picture flickers, Sony says lowering Video Transfer Rate to -1 or -2 may improve picture quality.
These are checks for a display signal problem; Sony’s guidance does not establish that an HDMI cable or Video Transfer Rate setting fixes shimmer produced by PSSR. See Sony’s picture and sound troubleshooting and its PS5 4K resolution guide.
When to seek further support
If broad display faults persist outside a particular game after basic signal checks, follow PlayStation’s troubleshooting and support route. The cited guidance does not recommend a console reset or buying new hardware as a first response to PSSR shimmer. For an artifact confined to one title, consult that game’s support information and report the title, graphics mode, scene, and whether changing the PSSR option affects it.
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