The PlayStation 5 Pro's new PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) AI upscaling technology appears to be a significant step forward in the race for high-quality image upscaling, potentially posing a serious challenge to NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology.
Key features and advantages of PSSR:
- PSSR is a hardware-based AI upscaling solution, unlike AMD's software-based FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) which relies on spatial and temporal upscaling techniques.
- Early hands-on tests have shown PSSR to deliver significantly better image quality and clarity compared to AMD's FSR 3.1 in "Performance Mode", suggesting it may be on par with or even surpass NVIDIA's DLSS.
- PSSR is tightly integrated with the PS5 Pro's hardware, allowing for efficient and optimized performance, potentially enabling smoother 60fps gameplay at higher resolutions.
Potential drawbacks of PSSR:
- The PS5 Pro's $699.99 price tag may be a deterrent for many users, especially given the lack of a substantial exclusive first-party game lineup in the near future to justify the premium.
- PSSR's performance and image quality advantages may be limited to the PS5 Pro, as it is a proprietary Sony technology that may not be available on other platforms.
AMD's position in the AI upscaling market:
- AMD has confirmed that it is working on incorporating AI-based upscaling into its upcoming FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4.0 technology.
- This shift towards AI-powered upscaling is seen as a necessary step for AMD to remain competitive against NVIDIA's DLSS and now Sony's PSSR.
- However, AMD's AI upscaling efforts may be constrained by the limited AI capabilities of its current GPU architectures, potentially putting it at a disadvantage compared to the dedicated AI hardware found in NVIDIA and Sony's solutions.
The introduction of PSSR on the PS5 Pro represents a significant advancement in the field of AI-based image upscaling, and it will be interesting to see how AMD responds with its FSR 4.0 technology to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving space.
PlayStation’s new PSSR AI upscaling looks set to compete with Nvidia’s DLSS - while AMD falls behind yet again
AMD fans, you might want to look away
