Sony is introducing AI-based graphics upscaling technology to the standard PlayStation 5 (PS5).

On Oct. 1 (local time), IT outlet The Verge reported that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) unveiled a new Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR). QSSR comes from Project Amethyst, an AI graphics co-development project led by Sony and AMD, and will be broadly provided to all PlayStation developers.

QSSR is a lower-overhead version of the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) concept used on the PS5 Pro, designed for use on the standard PS5. It uses a simplified neural network and an implementation optimized for PS5 to raise the detail and stability of images rendered at a lower internal resolution through AI. Unlike the PS5 Pro, which has dedicated machine-learning hardware, the standard PS5 has no separate AI acceleration silicon, making it difficult to process as fast as PSSR.

Based on an initial analysis by Digital Foundry, the outlet expected the standard PS5 to increasingly use upscaling targeting around 1440p. It said that, unlike the PS5 Pro, which generally targets 4K output, the standard PS5 can more flexibly adjust internal rendering resolution and final output targets depending on game and graphics modes. This is an expected range based on development approaches, not fixed specifications.

The barrier to adoption is relatively low. Daniel Craig (대니얼 크레이그), a senior graphics R&D engineer at Sony, explained, "If a game already supports PSSR, you can apply QSSR with just a few days of tuning."

The first supported games are Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei. Both titles added a graphics option on the standard PS5 on the day that allows users to select QSSR. Digital Foundry said initial results showed improved image sharpness and temporal stability, and assessed that it could be a meaningful change for current-generation games where low rendering resolution and existing upscaling quality had been weaknesses.