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Sony brings AI upscaling to standard PS5 with new QSSR technology

Quick Spectral Super Resolution is a result of Project Amethyst collaboration with AMD, but lacks the dedicated machine learning hardware of the PS5 Pro.

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Sony has announced a new AI upscaling technology for the regular PlayStation 5, called Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), which it says will deliver a 'new performance tier of AI upscaling' as a result of its Project Amethyst work with AMD.

Sony is launching QSSR specifically for the standard PS5, according to a blog post. The technology is distinct from PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which is available on the PS5 Pro and which Sony says remains the gold standard.

Early hands-on testing by Digital Foundry suggests that QSSR is not as fast as PSSR. The standard PS5 lacks dedicated machine learning silicon, meaning the upscaling process must run on the console's existing hardware. As a result, users can likely expect an upscaled 1440p resolution rather than the higher targets achievable with the Pro model's dedicated AI hardware.

The announcement marks the first practical application of Project Amethyst, Sony's collaborative effort with AMD to bring advanced AI capabilities to its gaming platforms. While the PS5 Pro already benefits from custom AI hardware, the standard PS5 now gains a software-based upscaling solution that aims to improve image quality without requiring a hardware upgrade.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Owners of the standard PS5 will gain access to AI-powered upscaling without needing to purchase the more expensive Pro model.
  • The technology is a direct output of Sony's Project Amethyst partnership with AMD, showing real progress in console AI integration.
  • QSSR could narrow the visual gap between standard and Pro consoles, potentially shifting how developers optimise games.

Background

The PS5 Pro launched with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), a hardware-accelerated AI upscaling solution that uses dedicated machine learning silicon. The standard PS5 does not include this custom hardware, meaning any AI upscaling must run on the existing compute units or use alternative approaches. Sony's Project Amethyst collaboration with AMD was announced with the goal of advancing AI and machine learning for gaming. QSSR is the first feature to reach the standard PS5 from that initiative, offering a software-driven alternative to PSSR.

Key Perspectives

Sony: Positions PSSR on the PS5 Pro as the gold standard for upscaling, while presenting QSSR as a meaningful upgrade for the standard PS5. Digital Foundry: Early testing indicates QSSR is slower than PSSR because the standard PS5 lacks dedicated AI hardware, and users should expect upscaled output closer to 1440p. Gamers and developers: The feature may improve image quality on existing standard PS5 consoles, but the performance trade-off could limit adoption in demanding titles.

What to Watch

  • Which first-party and third-party games will receive patches to support QSSR.
  • How QSSR's image quality and performance compare to other upscaling techniques, such as AMD's FSR or Nvidia's DLSS.
  • Whether Sony plans to bring QSSR to other hardware or iterate based on Project Amethyst.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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