Xbox Series X|S Is Getting A Surprise Graphics Boost From AMD

Sony isn't the only company introducing new upscaling technology to its flagship PlayStation 5, as Microsoft and AMD have announced that FSR 4.1 is coming to more devices--including Xbox Series X|S consoles--in the future.

Similar to Sony's hardware-accelerated upscaling solutions for PS5 and PS5 Pro, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4.1 is an advanced, machine-learning-based temporal image upscaling and reconstruction technology that can render a game at a lower resolution and then upscale it to a higher resolution.

While it's highly doubtful that Xbox Series X|S consoles will start offering PS5 Pro-like graphics (both consoles lack dedicated hardware for machine-learning algorithms), this should still give owners a noticeable bump in graphical quality and performance if implemented properly.

"At Xbox, we're building a gaming platform designed to meet players where they are and make it easier for creators to reach them," Xbox chief technology officer Scott Van Vliet said in the announcement video. "AMD has been an important partner in that journey for more than two decades. Together, our teams have been pushing gaming forward, across Xbox and Windows, from the silicon at the heart of our consoles and handhelds to technologies like DirectX, Advanced Shader Delivery, and Auto SR that help developers get more from the hardware and deliver better experiences for our players. Today, we're excited to take another step forward together, with FSR 4.1 coming to Xbox."

Van Vliet added that FSR 4.1 will come to Xbox Series X|S "soon," and that Microsoft and AMD are working to bring the tech to the next-gen Xbox console, Project Helix.

Beyond that, AMD didn't share any more details on FSR 4.1 for Xbox Series X|S. FSR 1 and FSR 2 relied primarily on spatial algorithms or basic temporal accumulation to upscale games, and questions remain about who will adopt the technology and add support.

Just because the latest version of FSR is out doesn't mean a game will automatically use it. For example, Capcom built the console versions of Pragmata around FSR 1, scaling up from 720p on Xbox Series S and 1080p on Xbox Series X. FSR integration requires manual developer work and testing, so results may vary. We're already seeing signs of this on PS5 with Quick Spectral Super Resolution; for now, only Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei will support the new AI upscaling upgrade on base PS5 consoles.

Essentially, developers will have to actually patch their games to use it; AMD FSR 4.1 will not automatically upgrade every older game overnight. The announcement comes just weeks before the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, and while Rockstar hasn't confirmed if its open-world game will utilize any upscaling technology like PSSR, QSSR, FSR 4.1, we could be looking at a current-gen arms race to find the best console to play the biggest game of the year on.

Beyond Xbox hardware, AMD FSR 4.1 will also be supported in Radeon RX 6000-series graphics cards, Gorgon Halo and Strix Halo Ryzen 9 laptops, and mobile gaming PC handhelds like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally devices that use Z2 Extreme and Z2A chipsets.