Lossless Scaling, a $7 Steam application, has revolutionized frame generation in 2024. Similar to Nvidia DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3, it offers frame generation capabilities. However, Lossless Scaling’s compatibility extends to any game and graphics card, potentially tripling or quadrupling frame rates. Now, the latest beta release introduces a groundbreaking feature unseen in even DLSS 3 and FSR 3.
The developer recently unveiled the 2.12 beta on Steam, adding several key features. Most notably, a resolution scale has been implemented for LSFG, Lossless Scaling’s proprietary machine learning-based frame generation algorithm. This allows users to reduce the resolution of input frames, trading a negligible decrease in visual quality for a substantial performance boost. The overall game resolution remains unchanged, effectively providing the frame generation algorithm with slightly less data to process.
This ingenious performance enhancement technique remains unparalleled by Nvidia or AMD. Generated frames, regardless of their origin, often exhibit artifacts and minor visual anomalies. These issues typically go unnoticed due to their fleeting presence between rendered frames, lasting only milliseconds on screen. Lossless Scaling’s new feature leverages this principle, offering further performance gains with a virtually imperceptible drop in image quality.
The resolution scale option in Lossless Scaling.Lossless Scaling’s resolution scale setting.
Testing in Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrates the effectiveness of this new feature. At native 4K resolution, utilizing 3X frame generation and setting the resolution scale to 70% allowed for a consistent 138Hz refresh rate, the maximum supported by the monitor used in testing. The visual difference between 100% and 70% resolution scaling was imperceptible at such a high frame rate. However, as with all frame generation technologies, achieving a baseline frame rate of 60 fps before enabling frame generation is recommended.
Beyond the resolution slider, the 2.12 beta introduces other improvements. LSFG 1, the initial frame generation algorithm, has been completely replaced by its successor. Additionally, the app now supports Snapdragon Game Super Resolution (SGSR) v1, a lightweight upscaler developed by Qualcomm for Adreno GPUs. This integration promises enhanced upscaling, especially beneficial for less powerful graphics cards.
As a beta release, the update won’t automatically appear in Steam. To access it, navigate to the Properties window for Lossless Scaling in Steam, select Betas, and choose beta – beta from the Beta Participation dropdown menu to download the update.
