PS5 Pro Gains Major Visual Boost with Upgraded PSSR Technology
Sony is rolling out a significant upgrade to its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology for the PS5 Pro, promising enhanced graphics and performance across a growing library of games. The upgraded PSSR, co-developed with AMD, is already live in Resident Evil Requiem, marking the first title to leverage the advancements.
What is PSSR and Why Does it Matter?
PSSR is an AI-powered upscaling technology designed to improve the visual fidelity of games on the PS5 Pro. It analyzes game images pixel by pixel during the upscaling process, effectively boosting resolution and image quality. To date, PSSR has been utilized to enhance over 50 PS5 Pro titles [PlayStation Blog].
New Algorithm and Neural Network
This latest iteration of PSSR represents a substantial overhaul, moving beyond incremental improvements to incorporate a fundamentally different approach to both the neural network and the overall algorithm. The development was a collaborative effort with AMD, building upon the foundation of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4 upscaling technology [PlayStation Blog]. Sony has further refined the technology with an additional six months of enhancements specifically tailored for PS5 Pro players.
Resident Evil Requiem: A Showcase for Enhanced Visuals
Resident Evil Requiem serves as the debut showcase for the upgraded PSSR. Capcom highlighted how the technology allowed them to elevate the visual presentation of the protagonist, rendering details like individual strands of hair and beard as polygons to achieve realistic movement and lighting effects [PlayStation Blog]. Masaru Ijuin, Senior Manager from Capcom, noted that PSSR successfully processed these intricate details, which are traditionally challenging to upscale, resulting in unprecedented visual fidelity and immersion [PlayStation Blog].
What’s Next for PSSR?
Sony plans to roll out the upgraded PSSR to additional PS5 Pro games in the coming weeks. A system software update scheduled for March will introduce a new setting – “Enhance PSSR image quality” – allowing players to enable the improved upscaling for any PS5 Pro game already supporting PSSR [PlayStation Blog]. Users are encouraged to experiment with the setting to potentially experience noticeably sharper graphics in their existing game libraries [PlayStation Blog].