PS5 Pro is Getting an Upgraded AI-Powered PSSR Upscaler
Sony’s AI upscaling model promises better detail reconstruction on PS5 Pro, with Capcom's Resident Evil: Requiem already using the upgraded technology.
Resident Evil: Requiem Without (Left) and With (Right) Enhanced PSSR
On the PlayStation Blog, Sony announced an AI-powered upgrade to its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, specifically for the PS5 Pro console. The first game to use this new upscaling tech is Capcom's Resident Evil: Requiem, also releasing today. You can check out my thoughts on the game and the evolution of RE Engine right here.
The update builds on Sony’s work with AMD under Project Amethyst, the joint initiative aimed at advancing machine learning solutions for graphics rendering. The improved PSSR model introduces a more advanced neural network and reconstruction algorithm, which Sony says has undergone roughly six additional months of refinement since the PS5 Pro launched.
The differences aren't immediately massive at first glance, but you can really tell in the details on Grace's face and in her hair in the images above. At the top of the article, you can see them side-by-side, but directly above is the full image showing the new PSSR enhancements turned on.
“With Resident Evil Requiem, we focused on enhancing the presentation quality of the protagonist through an upgraded version of RE Engine to deepen the player’s immersion in horror. For example, each individual strand of hair and beard is rendered as a polygon, allowing it to move realistically in response to body motion and wind. The way light passes through his hair changes depending on how the strands of hair are overlapped as well. This detailed expression of texture is one of the many details that we would especially love for our fans to see.
The upgraded PSSR has allowed us to elevate our expressiveness by successfully processing these details and textural particularities, which are traditionally difficult to upscale because of their intricacy. We hope you will experience this unprecedented level of horror and visual fidelity, and the new gameplay feel it delivers.”
– Masaru Ijuin, Senior Manager Engine Development Support Section R&D Foundational Technology Department, Capcom
PSSR functions similarly to technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, using machine learning to upscale a lower-resolution internal render into a higher-resolution output. This allows developers to target higher visual fidelity and more demanding rendering features while maintaining performance on fixed hardware.
Sony says this results in more accurate detail reconstruction and improved stability in complex scenes, particularly in cases where overlapping geometry, lighting, or dense foliage can cause artifacts.
To enable the option, visit the 'Screen and Video' section of your PS5 Pro system settings and enable 'Enhance PSSR Image Quality' under 'Video Output' settings. As of right now, it's unclear how many games or which games will support this feature in the future. For now, it's just Resident Evil: Requiem.
However, this feature can also apply the new model, reportedly, to games that already support existing PSSR (like Ghost of Yotei) without requiring individual patches from developers. In theory, this means existing PS5 Pro titles that rely on the technology could see visual improvements immediately. Although developers will still be able to optimize their games specifically for the upgraded model through future updates.
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