Xbox Series X games are about to get a big boost thanks to AMD
Xbox Series X and Nvidia GPU owners should get big performance boosts from a somewhat unlikely source, as AMD is ready to support these devices with FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0, the new upscaling technology. generation of the company just announced at GDC 2022.
As reported by Gamespot (opens in a new tab)AMD unveiled its FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0 upscaling technology during its GDC 2022 keynote, and confirmed it will be available to Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU owners as well as console gamers. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. While details on Microsoft console support are slim – AMD said it doesn’t currently have a timeline for when we can expect FSR 2.0 on Xbox – it It’s great that the technology is coming to consoles at all.
Ultimately, it’s a huge win for console owners, where fixed hardware means upgrades aren’t possible without purchasing a separate console entirely. Many Xbox Series X/S titles also feature performance modes that lower resolution in order to increase frame rates. With FSR 2.0, performance modes should be able to upscale resolutions to something much sharper, essentially giving gamers the best of both worlds.
As a result, Xbox games should start to look noticeably better thanks to improved image quality. Games that struggle to maintain full 4K resolution may now have an easier time maintaining it, as FSR 2.0 should also help cover up any serious loss of visual clarity.
What is FidelityFX Super Resolution?
Much like Nvidia’s own DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution is an upscaling technology that increases the resolution of supported games with minimal impact on overall performance. The technology is capable of stepping up to more demanding resolutions, such as 4K, as long as the user has a supported GPU or console.
This means for the end user that they can experience a higher level of image quality on lower end hardware and won’t need to break the bank on a flagship GPU like the Nvidia GeForce RTX. 3090.
Just like the first generation AMD technology launched last year, FSR 2.0 is currently confirmed to feature three distinct graphics settings; Quality, Balanced and Performance modes. And while we don’t have a concrete launch date for FSR 2.0 yet, AMD is targeting a Q2 2022 release window. As such, we can likely expect FSR 2.0 to drop between April and June.
Analysis: Will FSR 2.0 be coming to PS5 or Switch?
We are very happy that FSR 2.0 is coming to Xbox Series X/S consoles, of course. But given that the first generation of AMD’s scaling technology is already available on Microsoft’s systems, it seems obvious that its next-generation technology would follow.
We’d be more interested to see if FSR 2.0 makes its way to other consoles as well, especially since the technology is open source. Additionally, the PS5 shares much of the same AMD hardware that the Xbox Series X is built with. As such, it would be a shame if PS5 owners missed out on FSR 2.0 when it looks like it would be right at home on Sony’s flagship console as well.
Another console to consider is the Nintendo Switch, where upscaling technology could seriously benefit the relatively underpowered console. On Switch, games generally top out at 1080p in docked mode and 720p when played handheld. The introduction of FSR on the Switch could therefore be a huge boon for the console, especially since we probably won’t see the Nintendo Switch 2 for some time.
FSR on Nintendo Switch doesn’t seem so unrealistic either. When testing the Nintendo Switch Sports Network, for example, a user was able to find evidence of FSR implementation (opens in a new tab) in the various licenses of the game, it is possible that the scaling technology could be used for future Nintendo first-party titles.
The FSR 2.0 system requirements might exceed the scope of the Switch’s current hardware, but if the scaling tech does indeed make it to the handheld, we’d like to see AMD’s next-gen version supported on a potential upgraded Switch model somewhere down the line.
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