With the Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro reaching its peak, more details surrounding the follow-up game system are emerging. The most recent rumours reveal that gamers will apparently have two next-generation machines to choose from, upon launch.

Insiders are claiming the PlayStation 5 Pro is launching alongside its standard counterpart. This means consumers who are in the market for top-tier specifications can get it on day one.

As it stands right now, Sony's aging console is about to reach its six-year milestone this year. Hence, industry experts estimate that it is time for the manufacturer to move on to the next phase. The original PS4 made its debut in November 2013. Three years later, the company introduced an upgrade in the form of the Pro version.

According to Digital Trends, Zenji Nishikawa, a Japanese journalist, says it's going to be different for the upcoming platform. While the pricing for the PlayStation 5 is still unavailable, Nishikawa believes that the PlayStation 5 Pro will cost $100 (80 pounds) to $150 (120 pounds) more. For now, details such as these are regarded as speculation, until Sony makes an official announcement. However, given that Nishikawa leaked news about the Nintendo Switch Lite before it's official unveiling, it seems his new report could be from a reliable source.

Earlier this year, Mark Cerny, system architect, teased the gaming industry with exciting tidbits about the PS5. Fans were reportedly delighted when backward compatibility with PS4 games was finally confirmed. This means gamers can still enjoy their existing collection of games. There is no word yet if the new console will improve loading times and graphics, but it appears to be a likely add-on function to enhance the overall gameplay experience. Other relevant features include 8K graphics, ray-tracing and 3D audio just to name a few.

On paper, the PlayStation 5 is shaping up to be a powerful addition to Sony's gaming roster. It will be running on an eight-core chipset borrowing technology from AMD's high-performance gaming Ryzen lineup with Zen 2 microarchitecture. Understanding that these specifications pertain to the base model, this implies that the PlayStation 5 Pro will pack even more power and features. Meanwhile, the expected release date is sometime in 2020.

Sony PlayStation
Sony might release PlayStation 5 Pro alongside the base model in 2020. AFP / FREDERIC J. BROWN