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For Saros on PS5, start with Resolution set to Automatic, HDR set to On When Supported followed by Adjust HDR, VRR enabled on a compatible display, 120 Hz Output set to Automatic or enabled, and the television’s Game Mode active with motion smoothing disabled. Use the supplied PS5 HDMI cable or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable connected directly to an HDMI 2.1 port. Housemarque describes the game as running at a rock-solid 60 fps, using dynamic resolution to hold that rate during heavy combat; PS5 Pro raises the base render resolution for a sharper 60 fps image, while key story cinematics are the stated 30 fps exception.
Recommended Saros settings at a glance
The table below is a practical starting point for a PS5 or PS5 Pro connected to a modern 4K display. Every display has a different VRR range, HDR capability and input-processing pipeline, so treat the display-dependent items as conditional rather than universal.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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SAROS PS5 | $63.81 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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PRAGMATA - PlayStation 5 | $59.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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SAROS PS5 (Renewed) | $64.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Nioh 3: SteelBook Launch Edition - PlayStation 5 | $52.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| PS5 option | Recommended value | Why it suits Saros | When to change it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Automatic | Sony says Automatic selects the highest resolution the display supports. | Use 2160p only as a diagnostic step if Automatic negotiates the wrong mode. |
| VRR | Enable | Matches refresh to the console in real time and can smooth brief frame-time variations. | Turn it off if the display flickers, loses signal or shows poor near-black behaviour. |
| Apply to Unsupported Games | Off initially | It can expose VRR behaviour in titles that do not formally support it. | Test it only when the display remains stable and the result looks better. |
| 120 Hz Output | Automatic or enabled | Allows a 120 Hz display path and gives VRR more operating room. | Disable it when enabling 120 Hz causes a black screen, flicker or handshake failure. |
| HDR | On When Supported | HDR games use HDR while SDR games and apps stay in SDR. | Do not use Always On unless you deliberately want SDR converted to HDR. |
| Adjust HDR | Run the three-screen calibration | Aligns the console’s output with your display’s peak and black-level behaviour. | Repeat after changing picture mode, HDR mode or the display itself. |
| Video Transfer Rate | Automatic | Preserves the normal 4K, HDR, RGB and 120 Hz combinations. | Try -1, then -2, only when 4K output flickers or drops out. |
| Television picture mode | Game Mode | Reduces processing and input latency during aiming, dashing and shielding. | Use a low-latency equivalent if your display names the mode differently. |
| Motion smoothing/interpolation | Off | Avoids added latency and artificial frames during rapid camera movement. | Leave it off for gameplay even if you prefer it for films. |
What frame rate Saros actually targets
In the April 16, 2026 PlayStation Blog announcement, Housemarque says Saros runs at a rock-solid 60 fps on PS5. The game uses dynamic resolution: its internal render resolution can rise or fall so the frame-rate target remains stable when many effects, enemies and projectiles are on screen. Dynamic resolution means the image may not always be rendered at a fixed native 4K resolution; it is a deliberate performance technique, not evidence that the console has switched to a 30 fps mode.
The same announcement says PS5 Pro increases the game’s base render resolution before upscaling. That produces a clearer, higher-resolution image while retaining 60 fps gameplay. Key story cinematics rendered at peak quality are the stated 30 fps exception. Menus, transitions or other sequences may therefore look different from interactive combat, but the published gameplay target is 60 fps.
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Set the PS5 video output before launching Saros
Make the console establish a clean signal first, then launch the game. The following path uses the current PS5 system labels:
- Open Settings from the PS5 home screen.
- Select Screen and Video, then Video Output.
- Set Resolution to Automatic. Automatic asks the display for its highest supported resolution, which is normally 2160p on a 4K television.
- Set VRR to On if the display supports variable refresh rate. Leave Apply to Unsupported Games off for your first test.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic (or enabled, depending on the label shown by your system).
- Set HDR to On When Supported.
- Choose Adjust HDR and complete all three calibration screens with the display in its intended HDR Game picture mode.
- Leave Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.
- On the television, select its dedicated Game Mode or equivalent low-latency mode and turn motion smoothing, motion interpolation and similar frame-creation features off.
After saving the settings, close and relaunch Saros. A full relaunch removes uncertainty about whether a title or display is still using a previous video mode.
HDR: prevent a washed-out or over-processed image
Use On When Supported, not Always On
On When Supported sends HDR only when the game or app provides HDR metadata. SDR content remains SDR, preserving the creator’s intended gamma and colour response. Always On converts SDR games and apps into HDR output; that conversion can make menus, dark scenes and colours look incorrect even when Saros itself is properly mastered.
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Run Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR after selecting the display’s HDR Game mode. Follow the on-screen instruction for the sun icon: increase or decrease the control until the symbol is barely visible as instructed, rather than making the screen as bright as possible. The calibration is stored by the console, so repeat it if you change the display’s HDR tone mapping, switch picture modes or move the PS5 to another screen.
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Check the television’s HDR controls
- Confirm that the HDMI input used by the PS5 accepts HDR. Some displays expose enhanced-bandwidth or HDR toggles per input.
- Use the Game picture preset while playing; a cinema preset can apply extra tone mapping and delay.
- If dark areas look grey, check that the display’s black level and the console’s RGB range are not being forced to conflicting values. Automatic is the safest starting point unless the display documentation specifies a manual pairing.
- If highlights clip, lower the display’s HDR tone-mapping strength or rerun Adjust HDR rather than enabling Always On.
No published source gives a specific peak-luminance target for Saros, so do not chase an invented nit number. The correct result is stable shadow detail, visible highlight texture and no global grey veil in the game’s HDR scenes.
VRR: when it helps and when to disable it
Variable refresh rate lets the display change its refresh timing to follow the console’s output in real time. Even with a 60 fps target, small frame-time variations can occur while dynamic resolution reacts to combat loads. A compatible VRR display can make those variations less noticeable and reduce tearing.
Enable VRR in the console and display
- Enable the television or monitor’s VRR, FreeSync or HDMI variable-refresh option for the PS5 input.
- On PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set VRR to On.
- Leave Apply to Unsupported Games off initially. Turn it on only after testing Saros and confirming that the display remains stable; Sony notes that results vary by television.
- Play a combat section with rapid camera movement. Look for consistent motion and the absence of horizontal tearing, flicker or intermittent black screens.
VRR cannot create frames that the game does not render. It also cannot correct a poor HDMI link or a display whose VRR range does not cover the console’s output. If the image pulses, brightness changes in dark scenes or the signal repeatedly reconnects, disable VRR and retest at a fixed 60 Hz.
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Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) lets a compatible television switch itself into Game Mode when it detects a console signal. Sony notes that VRR output can trigger ALLM even when ALLM is set to Off. To turn ALLM fully off, VRR must also be off. In practice, leave the display in Game Mode and allow the automatic switch unless you have a specific reason to manage latency modes manually.
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120 Hz output and the 60 fps game target
A 120 Hz output setting does not turn Saros into a 120 fps game. Housemarque’s published target is 60 fps. A 120 Hz signal can still be useful because compatible displays often provide their best VRR behaviour and lowest-latency path when the console negotiates 120 Hz. The game remains responsible for its own frame production.
Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic and test a complete combat encounter. If the screen goes black, flickers, reports an unsupported signal or repeatedly switches modes, set 120 Hz Output to Off and retest at 60 Hz. A stable 60 Hz connection is preferable to an unreliable 120 Hz handshake.
Performance versus image-quality priorities
Saros is built around fast camera movement, dashes, shields and projectile-heavy combat. For that reason, the 60 fps presentation and low-latency display path matter more than forcing a fixed 4K output. Dynamic resolution may reduce internal detail briefly during the busiest scenes, but it protects reaction timing and frame pacing.
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Choose the responsiveness-first setup when
- You rely on precise dash or shield timing.
- Rapid camera pans make judder or tearing distracting.
- You play on a display with a capable VRR range and Game Mode.
- You would notice input delay more than a small change in fine texture sharpness.
Use the baseline settings: Automatic resolution, VRR On, 120 Hz Automatic, HDR On When Supported, calibrated HDR and motion processing Off.
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Choose a quality-leaning setup when
- You sit close to a large 4K screen and prioritise texture and edge clarity.
- Your display has no VRR or behaves poorly with it.
- You prefer a fixed 60 Hz signal over a variable one.
Keep Resolution on Automatic and HDR calibrated, but disable VRR or 120 Hz only when your hardware is unstable. There is no console setting that can remove the game’s dynamic-resolution behaviour without risking the 60 fps target.
PS5 Pro settings and what actually changes
Use the same video-output baseline on PS5 Pro: Automatic resolution, HDR On When Supported, completed Adjust HDR calibration, VRR enabled when stable, 120 Hz Automatic and Game Mode. The Pro-specific benefit described by Housemarque is a higher base render resolution before upscaling, giving a sharper image at 60 fps. It is not a separate 30 fps quality mode.
Key story cinematics remain the announced 30 fps exception, rendered at peak quality. Do not diagnose a cinematic’s cadence as a gameplay performance drop. Judge the console’s performance during interactive sections, especially dense fights where dynamic resolution is active.
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HDMI 2.1 and 4K/120 Hz connection checklist
PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 and 4K/120 Hz output. A reliable connection requires every link in the chain to support the negotiated mode:
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- Use the HDMI cable included with the PS5 or another Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.
- Connect the console directly to a display HDMI 2.1 port that supports 4K/120 Hz. Avoid routing through an older receiver, soundbar or switch while troubleshooting.
- Update the television’s firmware before testing. Manufacturers often fix HDMI handshake and VRR issues in firmware.
- Keep PS5 Resolution on Automatic (or 2160p for a controlled test) and Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.
- Power-cycle the console and display after changing cables or HDMI input modes so they renegotiate capabilities.
If 4K output flickers, return to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Video Transfer Rate and try -1. If the problem remains, try -2. These options reduce signal bandwidth, which can stabilise a marginal cable or input, but they also limit some combinations of 4K/120 Hz, RGB and Deep Color. Treat them as troubleshooting compromises, not image-quality upgrades.
Troubleshoot common Saros display problems
Washed-out HDR or grey blacks
- Set HDR to On When Supported, not Always On.
- Confirm the display is in HDR Game mode and rerun Adjust HDR.
- Check that the PS5 is connected to an HDR-capable HDMI input and that the display has no conflicting black-level or range override.
- Temporarily disable extra tone-mapping or dynamic-contrast features, then add them back one at a time if desired.
If SDR menus look wrong while Saros looks acceptable, Always On conversion is the likely cause; return to On When Supported.
Stutter, judder or repeated black screens at 120 Hz
- Set 120 Hz Output to Off and test the same scene at 60 Hz.
- If the problem disappears, verify that the HDMI cable and port are rated for 4K/120 Hz and that display firmware is current.
- Reconnect directly to the display, bypassing intermediate equipment.
- Re-enable 120 Hz only after the signal remains stable for several minutes of play.
A 60 Hz fallback is valid: it does not change the game’s 60 fps target, and stability is more important than a higher transport refresh rate.
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VRR flicker, pulsing or brightness shifts
- Turn VRR off on both the display and PS5 and confirm that fixed-refresh gameplay is clean.
- Check whether the display’s VRR range has a documented lower limit and whether the problem appears only in dark scenes.
- Update firmware and test a direct HDMI connection.
- Re-enable VRR with Apply to Unsupported Games still off. If artefacts return, leave VRR disabled for this setup.
4K signal drops or intermittent “no signal” messages
- Replace the cable with the included PS5 cable or a certified Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable.
- Use the display’s HDMI 2.1 port, not a bandwidth-limited port.
- Set Video Transfer Rate to -1, then -2 if necessary.
- After each change, restart both devices and test Resolution Automatic with 120 Hz disabled; add 120 Hz and VRR back separately.
The picture looks soft during combat
Dynamic resolution can lower the internal render resolution during heavy effects to protect 60 fps. On PS5 Pro, the higher base render resolution should make the image clearer, but it does not eliminate dynamic scaling. Check that the display is not applying a blurry noise-reduction filter, that Game Mode is active and that the console is actually outputting 2160p when supported.
A repeatable tuning sequence
When changing several variables at once makes diagnosis difficult, use this order:
- Start with a direct HDMI connection, Resolution Automatic, HDR On When Supported, Video Transfer Rate Automatic, VRR Off and 120 Hz Off.
- Run Adjust HDR in the display’s Game mode and confirm that SDR menus remain SDR.
- Enable 120 Hz and test. If stable, leave it enabled; if not, return to 60 Hz.
- Enable VRR and test a demanding combat section. Watch for tearing, flicker and signal drops.
- Only after the display chain is stable, consider Apply to Unsupported Games.
- Record the final settings so you can restore them after a firmware update or a change of HDMI input.
This sequence isolates bandwidth, HDR, refresh-rate and variable-refresh problems instead of masking one fault with another setting.
What the published information does not establish
The April 2026 announcement establishes the 60 fps PS5 target, dynamic resolution and the PS5 Pro base-resolution improvement, but it does not publish an independent frame-time chart, laboratory HDR luminance figure or a measured VRR operating range. Display observations about flicker or stutter depend on the television, cable, firmware and settings. Use the troubleshooting tests above rather than treating any unmeasured number as a guaranteed specification.
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