Bungie's Marathon Runs at Native 5K on PS5 Pro Using PSSR Downscaling Technique

Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will utilize PlayStation 5 Pro hardware in an unconventional way, opting for native 5K rendering paired with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) downscaling rather than the standard upscaling approach. According to the official PlayStation website listing, this configuration aims to deliver superior image quality for competitive gameplay.

The PS5 Pro Enhanced listing states: "PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) blends 5K internal rendering into a clean, stable 4K image so your Runner’s view stays sharp, even when the action gets hectic." This description confirms Marathon will render internally at approximately 5120x2880 resolution before using PSSR's AI-assisted processing to downsample to 3840x2160 output.

This technique differs significantly from most PS5 Pro implementations where games render at sub-4K resolutions (often 1440p or lower) and use PSSR to upscale to 4K. Instead, Marathon employs supersampling - rendering at higher-than-output resolution then scaling down - which reduces aliasing artifacts and creates noticeably sharper image quality. For an extraction shooter where spotting distant enemies provides tactical advantage, this approach could offer meaningful competitive benefits.

Marathon PS5 Pro Enhanced description (Image source: Sony PlayStation with edits)

Bungie hasn't yet clarified performance targets, leaving frame rate capabilities uncertain. While the studio's recently revealed PC system requirements suggest strong optimization for lower-end hardware, the computational demands of native 5K rendering could potentially impact frame rates on PS5 Pro. Extraction shooters typically benefit from higher frame rates for fluid movement, making the resolution/frame rate balance critical.

Technical considerations include potential PSSR latency, which some games have mitigated through optional performance modes that disable AI upscaling. As seen in titles like Borderlands 4, merely supporting PS5 Pro features doesn't guarantee optimal implementation. Bungie's reverse approach indicates concerted effort to maximize the console's capabilities at launch.

With Marathon positioned as a flagship PS5 Pro Enhanced title ahead of its March release, this rendering strategy demonstrates Bungie's focus on visual precision for competitive play. Players can expect detailed image-quality comparisons against standard PS5 versions once performance metrics are available.