The upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro is poised to significantly boost its visual performance through the integration of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) upscaling technology. This advancement is a direct result of Project Amethyst, a collaborative effort between Sony and AMD aimed at elevating the console’s graphical capabilities.
FSR 4, recently announced alongside AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards featuring RDNA 4 architecture, utilizes machine learning to achieve image quality comparable to Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). Departing from previous iterations, FSR 4 employs hardware-based machine learning for upscaling, optimizing both performance and visual clarity.
Mark Cerny, PlayStation’s lead system architect, revealed in a recent interview with Digital Foundry that the neural network and training methodologies behind FSR 4 are direct products of the Amethyst collaboration. This represents a more sophisticated approach compared to the existing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR).
This integration of FSR 4 into the PS5 Pro is currently planned for game releases starting in 2026, with ongoing work to tailor the technology to the console’s architecture. Cerny expressed confidence in the PS5 Pro’s machine learning capabilities, highlighting its peak performance of 300 8-bit Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS), which is comparable to AMD’s latest GPUs.
Machine learning and ray tracing are anticipated to be the key upgrades for the PS5 Pro, potentially as part of AMD’s Amethyst project. During the RDNA 4 reveal, AMD demonstrated path tracing and neural rendering, featuring a denoising capability similar to Nvidia’s ray reconstruction.
The central upgrades for the PS5 Pro are expected to be machine learning and ray tracing, possibly integrated through AMD’s Amethyst project. AMD’s RDNA 4 unveiling showcased a demo incorporating path tracing, neural rendering, and a denoising feature comparable to Nvidia’s ray reconstruction. This suggests that the PS5 Pro could leverage similar advancements in rendering technology.
While the ultimate success of this integration remains to be seen, the development marks a significant leap in upscaling technology for the PS5 Pro. This promises gamers sharper, more stable visuals in upcoming titles. The collaboration between Sony and AMD through Project Amethyst highlights a commitment to pushing the boundaries of console graphics, and FSR 4 is positioned to play a crucial role in delivering a next-generation gaming experience.
