Sony is bringing image enhancement technology to the standard PlayStation 5 console through a new software feature called Quick Spectral Super Resolution, or QSSR. The technique acts as a scaled-down version of the PSSR technology previously exclusive to the PlayStation 5 Pro, allowing developers to utilize artificial intelligence to analyze and upscale game graphics pixel by pixel on older hardware.
QSSR Brings AI Upscaling to Standard PlayStation 5 Consoles
Daniel Craig, head of graphics technology at Sony, told Digital Foundry that the company is pleased to enhance the standard console and enable developers to create better games. Sony developed the technology in collaboration with AMD, according to VideoCardz. Because the standard PlayStation 5 lacks the dedicated machine learning hardware and approximately 300 TOPS of compute power found in the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony engineered a lighter variant utilizing alternative technical methods to run on the base hardware.
Marvels Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei First to Implement QSSR
Two major titles are adopting the technology immediately upon announcement: Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei. Players can enable QSSR through a new graphics option inside these games. Mike Fitzgerald, technology director at Insomniac Games, stated that QSSR adds greater clarity and stability at the pixel level in the environment for Marvel’s Wolverine. Sucker Punch Productions, the developer behind Ghost of Yotei, noted that the technique successfully brings out fine details in characters and environments.
Performance Comparisons Between Standard PlayStation 5 and Pro Hardware
While QSSR improves visual quality on the standard console, the PlayStation 5 Pro retains a performance advantage due to its superior hardware and PSSR upscaling. Digital Foundry tested the technology prior to the announcement and concluded that Marvel’s Wolverine sees exceptional visual improvements, while gains in Ghost of Yotei are more modest because that title already featured high base image quality. Sony maintains that PSSR remains the gold standard on the Pro model, but positions QSSR as a way to deliver a Pro-like experience to owners of the standard console.
Frequently Asked Questions About PlayStation 5 QSSR
Which games support QSSR at launch?
Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei are the first two titles to include the QSSR graphics option.
How does QSSR differ from PSSR on the PlayStation 5 Pro?
PSSR relies on dedicated machine learning hardware with about 300 TOPS of compute power on the PlayStation 5 Pro, whereas QSSR is a lighter variant designed to run on the standard PlayStation 5 without dedicated machine learning silicon.
Will Grand Theft Auto 6 use QSSR?
Sony has not confirmed whether Grand Theft Auto 6 will utilize the QSSR technology when it launches in November.