AMD has announced that its FSR 4.1 AI upscaling technology, previously exclusive to Radeon 7000 and 9000 series graphics cards, will soon be available on a wider range of devices, including the Xbox Series X. This expansion also includes support for RDNA 2 graphics cards, such as the Radeon RX 6800 XT, and Z2-powered handhelds like the Xbox Ally X20.
FSR 4.1, similar to Nvidia's DLSS, utilizes AI to upscale lower-resolution images to native resolution. However, its computational demands have historically limited its accessibility on less powerful hardware. AMD's ongoing collaboration with Sony, known as Project Amethyst, has facilitated significant advancements in optimizing FSR 4.1 for weaker devices. According to AMD Senior Vice President of Gaming and Graphics, Jack Huynh, the company has successfully slimmed down the AI model to improve efficiency on hardware that lacks the extensive AI accelerators found in newer RDNA 4 graphics cards.
This development follows AMD's recent work with Sony on its own upscaling technology, QSSR, which was optimized for the base PlayStation 5. The new, more efficient FSR 4.1 model is expected to offer similar improvements in upscaling quality for devices like the Xbox Ally X.
While an exact release date for FSR 4.1 on Xbox Series X has not been specified, AMD states it is 'coming soon.' This update could be particularly beneficial for upcoming demanding titles, such as Grand Theft Auto 6, which is anticipated to be challenging for current console hardware. The improved upscaling aims to enhance performance and visual fidelity.
Furthermore, Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet confirmed that AMD's next-generation FSR 'Diamond' technology is slated for release on Project Helix, a platform that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described as a "family of devices." The company's continued partnership with AMD suggests a commitment to bringing advanced upscaling solutions across its console ecosystem.