Microsoft and AMD have revealed that FSR 4.1, an advanced temporal image upscaling and reconstruction technology, will be coming to Xbox Series X|S consoles in the future. This technology, developed by AMD, uses machine learning to render games at a lower resolution and then upscale them to a higher resolution, potentially offering a noticeable improvement in graphical quality and performance for players.
While the Xbox Series X|S consoles lack dedicated hardware for machine-learning algorithms, which might prevent them from achieving graphics on par with devices like the PS5 Pro, the implementation of FSR 4.1 is still expected to provide a significant boost. "At Xbox, we're building a gaming platform designed to meet players where they are and make it easier for creators to reach them," stated Scott Van Vliet, Xbox chief technology officer, in an announcement video. "AMD has been an important partner in that journey for more than two decades. Together, our teams have been pushing gaming forward, across Xbox and Windows, from the silicon at the heart of our consoles and handhelds to technologies like DirectX, Advanced Shader Delivery, and Auto SR that help developers get more from the hardware and deliver better experiences for our players. Today, we're excited to take another step forward together, with FSR 4.1 coming to Xbox."
Van Vliet confirmed that FSR 4.1 will arrive on Xbox Series X|S "soon" and that work is underway to bring the technology to the next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix. Unlike earlier versions of FSR, which relied on spatial or basic temporal algorithms, FSR 4.1 leverages more advanced machine learning techniques.
However, the integration of FSR 4.1 into games will require explicit developer support. Games will not automatically benefit from the new technology; developers will need to patch their titles to implement and test FSR 4.1. This mirrors the situation with Sony's Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR) on the PS5, where support is game-specific, with titles like Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei confirmed to feature it. The success and widespread adoption of FSR 4.1 on Xbox will depend on developers actively choosing to integrate it into their games.
The announcement arrives shortly before the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. While Rockstar Games has not yet confirmed if the title will utilize any upscaling technologies, the increasing prevalence of such features on current-generation consoles suggests a potential competitive landscape for the best visual experience for major releases.
Beyond Xbox consoles, AMD FSR 4.1 will also be supported on Radeon RX 6000-series graphics cards, Gorgon Halo and Strix Halo Ryzen 9 laptops, and mobile gaming PC handhelds utilizing Z2 Extreme and Z2A chipsets, such as Asus ROG Ally devices.