Recent announcements from AMD and Sony have detailed updates and future plans for their respective graphics upscaling and frame generation technologies. These developments include the expansion of AMD's FSR 4.1 to older GPU architectures, the release of a new software development kit, and confirmation of an updated upscaler and future AI-based frame generation for PlayStation consoles.
AMD FidelityFX and FSR Developments
FidelityFX SDK 2.3 Release
AMD has released version 2.3 of the FidelityFX Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK, available under an MIT license on AMD's GPUOpen website, allows developers to integrate AI-based rendering technologies into games.
Key updates include official support for the FSR 4.1 upscaling technology on RDNA 3 graphics cards (e.g., Radeon RX 7000 Series and Radeon Pro W7000 Series) in addition to the previously supported RDNA 4 GPUs (e.g., Radeon RX 9000 Series). The SDK also includes updates to other technologies, such as the AI denoising system Ray Regeneration. The system requirements for the SDK include Windows 10 or later and DirectX 12, while FSR 4.1 specifically requires Windows 11 and a Radeon RX 7000 Series GPU or newer.
FSR 4.1 Availability and Performance
RDNA 3 Support: AMD announced that FSR 4.1 support for RDNA 3 GPUs would begin in July. However, the release of the FidelityFX SDK 2.3 made this support available earlier than initially stated.
RDNA 2 Support: AMD has stated that FSR 4.1 support for RDNA 2 GPUs (e.g., Radeon RX 6000 Series and the Steam Deck) is planned for an unspecified point in 2027. This extension was made possible by AMD creating an INT8 version of the technology, moving away from the FP8 instruction set hardware requirement that previously limited FSR 4 to RDNA 4 GPUs.
Performance Benchmarking: Independent testing by a user on a Radeon RX 7900 XTX (RDNA 3) in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K resolution with a high ray tracing preset reported the following frame rates:
- Native 4K: approximately 24 frames per second (fps).
- FSR 4.1 Balanced mode: 49.82 fps.
- FSR 4.1 Performance mode: 60.81 fps, a 154% increase over native.
"FSR 4.1 Performance mode delivered a 154% increase over native 4K rendering."
Frame Generation Ratio Option
An update to the AMD GPUOpen ADLX FidelityFX SDK includes a feature identified as "FrameGenUpgradeRatioOption." According to reports, this feature is described as allowing "users to select the desired frame generation ratio for optimal performance and visual quality." If implemented by developers, this would permit game developers to select frame generation ratios that would then be available to players.
Sony PlayStation Upscaling and Frame Generation
PSSR Update for PS5 Pro
Sony announced an enhanced version of its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaler for the PlayStation 5 Pro. The update was released via a system software update in March. It can be enabled or disabled through the console's settings menu via a toggle labeled "Enhance PSSR Image Quality."
First-Party Integration: Capcom's game Resident Evil Requiem was the first title to implement the updated upscaler.
Technical Details: Lead System Architect Mark Cerny confirmed that the new PSSR's algorithm and neural network are a result of Project Amethyst, an ongoing collaboration with AMD. He stated the technology is derived from AMD's FSR 4 upscaling technology and received an additional six months of refinement for the PS5 Pro. The update is designed to process intricate details and textures more effectively than the initial version.
Technical Analysis: Digital Foundry reported that when compared to AMD FSR 4 and NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 on PC, the new PSSR showed more aliasing but less ghosting and improved sharpness compared to AMD FSR 4 in certain scenarios. Digital Foundry also noted that the game's dark environment, depth of field effects, and film grain could influence the results of such comparisons.
Future AMD Integration: Jack Huynh, AMD's Senior VP and GM of Computing and Graphics, indicated that the advancements from this collaboration would be incorporated into AMD FSR 4 for PC in the coming months.
AI-Powered Frame Generation for PlayStation
Mark Cerny confirmed in an interview with Digital Foundry that a machine learning-based frame generation technology is planned for PlayStation platforms. Cerny stated, "FSR Frame Generation is also based on co-developed technology" and that an "equivalent frame generation library should be seen at some point on PlayStation platforms."
Timeline: Cerny clarified that Sony has no major technology launches planned for the remainder of the year and that the frame generation feature is not expected to arrive in 2026.
Project Amethyst: The frame generation solution is being co-developed with AMD as part of Project Amethyst, the same partnership that produced PSSR. This technology uses artificial intelligence to analyze motion vectors and other data to generate new frames between those rendered by the game engine.
"An equivalent frame generation library should be seen at some point on PlayStation platforms." — Mark Cerny
Hardware and Future Outlook: The PS5 Pro, released in late 2025, includes dedicated AI accelerators for PSSR. The frame generation feature is expected to be a complementary technology, allowing for higher perceived frame rates. It remains unspecified whether this feature will be added to the PS5 Pro via a software update or will debut with a next-generation PlayStation console, anticipated no earlier than 2027 or 2028.