PlayStation 5 Pro upscaling tech will move closer to AMD's FSR 4 in 2026

[Daniel Sims]

Something to look forward to: According to critics, the PlayStation 5 Pro's new machine learning implementation delivers noticeable improvements over previous console upscaling methods but still leaves room for growth. Thanks to Sony's partnership with AMD, which recently made significant advancements with FSR4, further improvements could begin materializing as early as 2026.

PlayStation console architect Mark Cerny recently told Eurogamer that Sony plans to integrate the neural network behind AMD's FSR4 upscaler into the PlayStation 5 Pro's PSSR technique starting in 2026. This revelation comes just a day after AMD confirmed its collaboration with Sony on FSR4.

AMD's newly launched Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards introduced the company's first machine learning-based upscaler, FSR4. Our analysis shows that this new method delivers significantly better image quality than AMD's previous spatial and temporal upscaling techniques, which are now widely used in console games.

The PlayStation 5 Pro incorporates elements of the Radeon RX 9000's RDNA 4 architecture for its machine learning-based PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). However, its results don't yet match the quality of AMD's FSR4 or Nvidia's DLSS. Cerny explained that PSSR will more closely resemble FSR4 starting next year, as Sony collaborates with developers to integrate AMD's neural network.

This transition will take time, as RDNA 4 and the PlayStation 5 Pro are not identical. The first RDNA 4 GPUs – the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT – belong to a higher performance class than the PS5 Pro, which also lacks support for sparsity. Sparsity is a key technique that helps RDNA 4 and Nvidia hardware optimize upscaling workloads. However, Cerny believes the PS5 Pro can still achieve strong performance without it.

Cerny describes the PlayStation 5 Pro as an early step in AMD and Sony's collaboration to refine machine learning-based upscaling for future products, likely including the PlayStation 6. Sony benefits from AMD's advancements in AI, while AMD gains from Sony's expertise in game optimization.

AMD has provided the architecture for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and the PlayStation 6 is expected to continue this trend. Recent reports suggest that Sony's next-generation console could arrive in 2027 or 2028, featuring a Zen 6 CPU and a GPU based on RDNA's successor, reportedly named UDNA.

Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch 2 – expected to launch in the first half of this year – could provide another compelling example of ML-based upscaling on consoles. Utilizing Nvidia's Ampere architecture from the RTX 30 series, the upcoming device will be the first handheld to employ DLSS, or possibly a more lightweight variation of it.

Permalink to story:

PlayStation 5 Pro upscaling tech will move closer to AMD's FSR 4 in 2026

 

[NumberNine]

The "fake it til you make it" strategy that is 4K console gaming.

 

[redgarl]

It was obvious that it was going to happen.

What AMD was missing was the workforce on the software side, but with Sony in the fray, the scales have changed.

 

[Billybobjoey]

PSSR started off pretty rough, but in the most recent implementations actually looks pretty decent. Unfortunately because of the godawful PC port, I would say that the PS5 Pro version of Jedi Survivor is the only platform where you can get a stutter-free 60 fps experience that doesn't look absolutely terrible. FSR 4 absolutely seems to be an improvement still, so it's to be expected and makes sense since Sony is part of the collaboration.

 

[kiwigraeme]

The big advantage here is the Apple like control and load variables - so can really tune up for each game - as same cpu/gpu etc

Think the PS6 will be a worry of Nvidia - a $700 machine with 9070xt like graphics - imagine if sony allowed a linux boot as well ( not happening)

 

[Puiu]

The big advantage here is the Apple like control and load variables - so can really tune up for each game - as same cpu/gpu etc

Think the PS6 will be a worry of Nvidia - a $700 machine with 9070xt like graphics - imagine if sony allowed a linux boot as well ( not happening)

Consoles haven't been a "worry" for PC in a long time even at inflated prices.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Consoles haven't been a "worry" for PC in a long time even at inflated prices.

Citation needed, between a steam deck like handheld and console , why should the majority of cash strapped youngsters buy an expensive PC - epecailly if have a young family and only so much disposable income

Stop thinking your world is everyone elses world
There's a reason why many buy a Nintendo switch and a few games - as it's enough

Now what is meant to be the biggest gaming platform ?

is it farcebook , consoles , handhelds , PC

or phones ( android + apple ) ??

I mean buy a PS6 , hook it up to your 85" mini LCD easy as ( how many PCs are actually hooked up to main tellies m probably not many )

add in cheaper APUs coming to play a huge backlog of games , that graphically look great

Ask yourself in you were starting out as young family in a modest house/apartment ( yes fantastic amounts of people live in small apartments ) what would you buy ??

Really the serous gamers , main hobbies, probably own a console and PC

Also gaming increasing in general so YOY increase may not be wonderful if share going down

 

[Puiu]

Citation needed, between a steam deck like handheld and console , why should the majority of cash strapped youngsters buy an expensive PC - epecailly if have a young family and only so much disposable income

Stop thinking your world is everyone elses world
There's a reason why many buy a Nintendo switch and a few games - as it's enough

Now what is meant to be the biggest gaming platform ?

is it farcebook , consoles , handhelds , PC

or phones ( android + apple ) ??

I mean buy a PS6 , hook it up to your 85" mini LCD easy as ( how many PCs are actually hooked up to main tellies m probably not many )

add in cheaper APUs coming to play a huge backlog of games , that graphically look great

Ask yourself in you were starting out as young family in a modest house/apartment ( yes fantastic amounts of people live in small apartments ) what would you buy ??

Really the serous gamers , main hobbies, probably own a console and PC

Also gaming increasing in general so YOY increase may not be wonderful if share going down

"why should the majority of cash strapped youngsters buy an expensive PC" - because they can and they do buy them. as for "expensive", the only thing expensive is the latest gen parts and native 4K gaming. you can buy cheap PCs anytime anywhere. even if you go for something newer, 4060 PCs are about $700 pre-built on newegg.

you have a very skewed view of reality.

and if you want to speak with statistics, then show the numbers:

Global console & PC gaming market value worldwide by format 2026| Statista

In 2023, the digital console gaming market sales amounted to 32.1 billion U.S.

www.statista.com

Seriously now... why do all console players think that PCs are expensive and quote stupidly high prices?