Sony has announced the introduction of Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), a new AI upscaling model designed to enhance visual clarity on the base PlayStation 5 console. This technology, developed through the Project Amethyst collaboration with AMD, aims to bring improved image quality to a wider audience.
QSSR is a more lightweight version of the PSSR technology previously introduced for the PS5 Pro. While it may not achieve the same level of detail preservation as PSSR, it is expected to offer greater accuracy compared to the traditional temporal upscaling methods used on the original PS5. This advancement addresses a gap in the console's graphical capabilities, particularly for games that leverage advanced rendering techniques.
The debut of QSSR will coincide with the launches of Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine and Sucker Punch's Ghost of Yōtei. Developers from both studios have expressed enthusiasm for the technology. Mike Fitzgerald, Head of Technology at Insomniac, stated that QSSR will "add more pixel-level clarity and stability to our environments, bringing out extra detail." Similarly, Jasmin Patry, Lead Rendering Engineer at Sucker Punch, noted that QSSR "excels at resolving the fine details in our characters and environments and does so with a level of temporal stability that hasn’t been possible on the PS5 console until now."
Sony has provided comparison clips demonstrating QSSR's impact. In Marvel's Wolverine, a clip showcasing distant buildings shows that QSSR retains more detail than standard temporal upscaling, even if the image remains slightly blurry. In Ghost of Yōtei, footage focusing on foreground foliage illustrates QSSR's ability to maintain the distinct shapes of objects, reducing the aliasing artifacts seen in the standard PS5 version.
While the PS5 Pro's PSSR will likely remain superior due to the Pro's more powerful hardware, QSSR represents a significant step in making advanced upscaling accessible to all PS5 owners. Sony is making QSSR available to all developers, suggesting that its implementation may become more widespread in future titles. The updates for Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei are scheduled to go live today, allowing players to experience the new visual enhancements firsthand. This move could help bridge the visual fidelity gap for players who do not opt for more expensive next-generation hardware in the near future.