Guerrilla Games’ ‘Pico’ Upscaling Tech: A New Era for PlayStation Visuals?
The arrival of the PlayStation 5 Pro and its AI-powered PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology initially suggested a unified approach to image scaling across Sony’s first-party titles. However, Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the Horizon series, has charted a different course. Instead of relying on Sony’s system-level solution, the Dutch developer created its own advanced upscaling technology.
Introducing ‘Pico’: A Decima Engine Powerhouse
Guerrilla’s proprietary upscaling solution, named Pico (Progressive Image Compositor), is deeply integrated with the powerful Decima Engine. This became apparent with recent updates to Horizon Forbidden West and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on the PS5 Pro. The technology was also utilized for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, demonstrating its versatility.
Pico vs. The Competition: DLSS, FSR, and PSSR
Detailed analysis from Digital Foundry reveals that Guerrilla’s system rivals NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) in many aspects, including image stability during motion and the quality of reflections on water. Notably, Pico surpasses AMD’s FSR 3 (FidelityFX Super Resolution) in performance. This level of quality allowed Guerrilla to forego the use of PSSR, which is still undergoing refinement.
Beyond PlayStation: Decima Engine’s Expanding Reach
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Pico’s development is its potential beyond PlayStation exclusives. The Decima Engine also powers Death Stranding 2: On the Beach from Kojima Productions, meaning the technology isn’t confined to Sony’s internal studios. This suggests a broader ecosystem for the technology’s application.
The Future of Upscaling on Consoles
Guerrilla Games’ investment in creating its own image reconstruction software highlights the flexibility and power of the Decima Engine. Developing an upscaler that immediately competes with industry leaders like NVIDIA is a significant engineering achievement. This sets a new standard for visual fidelity in future PlayStation Studios titles and potentially beyond.
The Rise of Custom Upscaling Solutions
Guerrilla’s approach isn’t isolated. The trend towards developers creating their own upscaling solutions is gaining momentum. Whereas PSSR 2.0 is expected to improve Sony’s default technology, studios are increasingly recognizing the benefits of tailoring upscaling to their specific engines and artistic visions. This allows for greater control over image quality and performance optimization.
Potential Implications for PS5 Pro Adoption
The success of Pico could influence other developers to explore similar paths, potentially leading to a more diverse landscape of upscaling technologies on the PS5 Pro. This could also drive competition and innovation, ultimately benefiting gamers with improved visual experiences.
FAQ
What is upscaling? Upscaling is a technique used to render games at a lower resolution and then reconstruct a higher-resolution image, improving performance without a significant loss in visual quality.
What is Pico? Pico is Guerrilla Games’ proprietary upscaling technology, designed specifically for the Decima Engine.
How does Pico compare to PSSR? Pico is reported to rival or surpass PSSR in image quality and stability, leading Guerrilla Games to choose it over Sony’s default solution.
Will Pico be available in other games? Given that the Decima Engine powers Death Stranding 2, Pico is already being used in other titles, and its availability may expand further.
Wish to learn more about the PS5 Pro and its capabilities? Explore the official PlayStation website.
Share your thoughts on Guerrilla Games’ Pico technology in the comments below! What are your expectations for visual fidelity on the PS5 Pro?