AMD and Microsoft enhance game visuals

AMD and Microsoft have introduced a method to improve the graphical quality of games on the Xbox Series X/S without needing users to upgrade their consoles. This approach is similar to one Sony used for the PS5, coming at a time when the video game industry faces challenges like rising prices and studio closures.

FSR 4.1 expands to older GPUs

AMD announced on October 20 that its FSR Upscaling 4.1 technology would be available on new hardware and components. This image reconstruction technology, previously available on Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards, now includes support for older Radeon GPUs like the RX 7000 series and RX 6000 series.

How FSR Upscaling works

The technology works by having the GPU render images in a lower resolution, such as 1080p, and then using an algorithm to upscale the image to higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K. This frees up GPU power to improve other game effects or maintain a stable refresh rate.

FSR vs. NVIDIA's DLSS

AMD’s FSR Upscaling 4.1 differs from NVIDIA’s DLSS, which uses machine learning for image reconstruction. Earlier versions of FSR relied on traditional algorithms, making it compatible with a wide range of GPUs, including those from NVIDIA and Intel. However, this often resulted in performance that lagged behind DLSS.

FSR Redstone includes multiple tools

FSR Upscaling 4.1 is part of FSR Redstone, a collection of graphics technologies developers can use individually. The suite includes tools like FSR Frame Generation, FSR Ray Regeneration, and FSR Radiance Caching, all of which use machine learning. However, only FSR Upscaling 4.1 has been adapted to RDNA 3 and RDNA 2 GPUs, while the other components are meant for the newer RDNA 4 GPUs.

FSR 4.1 available on multiple platforms

FSR 4.1 is available on the RX 6000 series GPUs, Ryzen AI Max systems for high-end laptops, Ryzen Z2 systems used in portable consoles like the ROG Xbox Ally X, and notably on the Xbox Series X/S. The technology offers more precise image reconstruction, especially for fine details and moving objects.