Sony has unveiled Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), an AI-powered upscaling technology designed for the standard PS5 and PS5 Slim. The key difference is that it doesn't require the dedicated hardware of the PS5 Pro , although it still uses AI to reconstruct the image. It follows the work of Project Amethyst with AMD and aims to allow more gamers to experience a noticeable improvement without upgrading their console.
The proposal does not replace PSSR. PSSR remains the most advanced option on PS5 Pro , while QSSR is intended as a lighter version adapted to the performance of the base console. In Spain and the rest of Europe, the update is distributed as a graphics option within compatible games, not as a standalone system update.
What is QSSR and how does it differ from PSSR?
QSSR originated from Project Amethyst, a collaboration between Sony and AMD for AI-powered graphics. Its technical foundation combines an optimized neural network with an implementation tailored to the PS5 hardware . PSSR analyzed pixel by pixel using AI, but its computational demands prevented its direct implementation on the base console. QSSR reduces this burden and aims for greater detail and temporal stability than traditional upscaling methods.
According to Sony, QSSR brings noticeable improvements in detail and stability to the PS5, although it doesn't reach the level of PSSR. Don't expect the same leap as on the PS5 Pro , because the base PS5 doesn't have dedicated AI hardware like the 300 TOPS in the Pro. According to Daniel Craig, a graphics engineer at Sony, QSSR relies on FP16 calculations, packed instructions, and efficiency tricks to squeeze out performance gains.
One key difference is the target resolution. Technical analyses point to 1440p as the natural target for QSSR , not native 4K. On PS5 Pro, PSSR can work with more headroom to approach 2160p; on the standard PS5, pushing the output too far will negatively impact the frame rate. Therefore, developers must adjust internal, intermediate, and final resolutions depending on the graphics mode.
Compatible games: Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei
The first titles to integrate QSSR are Marvel's Wolverine, from Insomniac Games, and Ghost of Yōtei, from Sucker Punch Productions. Both have received patches to activate the technology as an additional graphics option . In the case of Wolverine, Insomniac highlights that QSSR adds clarity and pixel-level stability in environments such as Madripoor, Shinjuku, and other areas of Logan's journey.
Sucker Punch is also pleased. Jasmin Patry, lead render engineer, points out that QSSR resolves fine details of characters and environments with temporal stability that, according to her, had not been possible until now on a PS5 console. In Ghost of Yōtei, the improvements are more subtle because the game already had good image quality, but the studio appreciates the step forward.
Mike Fitzgerald, Insomniac's chief technology officer, believes that QSSR is a good fit for the launch of Marvel's Wolverine and allows PS5 players to experience a taste of the PS5 Pro experience. Both studios agree that the tool doesn't require remaking the game from scratch , but rather integrating an additional option within the settings menus. However, the results will depend on the specific game and how it's implemented.
Performance and initial technical tests
Digital Foundry tested QSSR on both available games. In Marvel's Wolverine, upscaling from 864p to 1440p costs between 1,5 and 1,8 milliseconds per frame , which with the unlocked refresh rate can equate to 8 to 10 fps less than Insomniac's previous upscaler. In 60Hz performance mode, dynamic resolution reduces some of that penalty.
When the output is set to 2160p, the cost rises to around 4,4 milliseconds per frame. This figure explains why 1440p is a more sensible target for QSSR on the standard PS5 . In Ghost of Yōtei, the technology works similarly to FSR 3 in unlocked performance mode with VRR, although further testing is needed to compare both solutions on equal footing.
Experts have observed improvements in temporal stability, fine detail, and the handling of small elements, such as moving foliage. Some artifacts typical of basic scaling are also reduced . Even so, it's not magic: QSSR relies on the studio adjusting parameters and the game having enough headroom to allocate milliseconds to AI processing.
Availability for developers and future on PS5
Sony has confirmed that QSSR will be available to all PlayStation developers. It's not limited to internal studios or the two launch titles . The intention is for more games to adopt it in the coming months, both first-party and third-party productions. Daniel Craig describes it as a direct replacement for games that already support PSSR, with adjustments that can take just a few days.
For players, the update is free and arrives via patches for each game. You don't need to buy a PS5 Pro to try QSSR , but you shouldn't expect it to match PSSR either. In Spain and Europe, the option will appear in the graphics menus of compatible titles, provided the studio decides to include it and the mode's performance allows it.
The move makes sense in a gaming landscape increasingly reliant on upscaling. Many titles render at low internal resolutions and then reconstruct the image , so a lightweight and widely available technology could extend the lifespan of the base PS5. It could also provide some relief amid rising hardware costs and a component shortage.
The arrival of QSSR doesn't eliminate the gap between the PS5 and PS5 Pro, but it does bring some of the advantages of AI upscaling to the standard console. Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei are the first examples , with visible improvements, especially in detail and stability, at the cost of performance that studios will have to manage. If Sony follows through on its plan and developers adopt the tool, QSSR could become a standard feature in upcoming PS5 and PS5 Slim releases.
