AMD and Sony have joined forces to develop FSR 4, the latest version of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution technology. This collaboration has resulted in a powerful new graphics upscaling solution that will appear in PlayStation consoles next year. Mark Cerny, PS5 Pro System Architect, revealed that Sony has already started implementing this new neural network-based technology into the PlayStation ecosystem.
The partnership highlights Sony’s increasing PC-friendly approach and strengthens its long-standing relationship with AMD. This next evolution builds upon Sony’s current PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) technology used in the PS5 Pro. FSR 4 launched alongside AMD’s new RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards, bringing enhanced image quality and performance to both PC and console gamers.
The implementation of FSR 4 in PlayStation next year aims to make PS5 games even crisper with improved upscaling capabilities. This move shows both companies’ commitment to advancing graphics technology across platforms, benefiting gamers regardless of their preferred gaming system.
A Next-Gen Collaboration: AMD and Sony Push the Boundaries
AMD and Sony have officially joined forces to bring FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) technology to the PlayStation ecosystem. This partnership is more than just a tech upgrade—it’s a leap toward transforming console gaming visuals, specifically targeting the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 Pro.
Known internally as Project Amethyst, this collaboration kicked off in late 2023. Its focus? Pioneering an advanced AI-powered upscaling solution designed to push the limits of what the PlayStation hardware can achieve. FSR 4 promises to deliver sharper images, higher frame rates, and overall improved gaming experiences without overtaxing the console’s hardware.
What Is FSR 4 and Why Does It Matter?
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD’s answer to upscaling and image enhancement. Unlike traditional rendering, which relies heavily on brute force GPU power, FSR uses sophisticated algorithms to upscale lower-resolution images into sharper, high-resolution visuals. This approach can dramatically improve performance and image quality simultaneously.
FSR 4, in particular, takes things to the next level with AI-assisted enhancements. It leverages machine learning to produce more stable and crisper visuals, minimizing artifacts and providing an experience closer to native rendering. For PlayStation gamers, this means better graphics without the usual trade-offs.
PS5 Pro: The First Beneficiary of FSR 4
Mark Cerny, the lead system architect for PlayStation, has confirmed that Sony plans to integrate an FSR 4-like upscaler into the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro. The system will feature a custom machine learning architecture capable of delivering 300 8-bit TOPS of AI performance. This specialized hardware ensures the PS5 Pro can handle the demands of FSR 4 without major modifications to the console’s internals.
With this capability, games launching in 2026 and beyond are expected to showcase visuals that are sharper, smoother, and more immersive than ever. The new upscaling algorithm is poised to outperform the current PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which has been Sony’s in-house upscaling solution until now.
How Project Amethyst Is Changing the Game
The collaboration, codenamed Project Amethyst, highlights Sony’s commitment to staying at the forefront of gaming technology. By partnering with AMD, Sony ensures that the PS5 Pro—and potentially future consoles—will benefit from cutting-edge AI-powered upscaling.
Integrating FSR 4 into the PlayStation platform isn’t without its challenges. The process requires fine-tuning to ensure that the upscaling works seamlessly across various game engines and titles. But insiders suggest Sony and AMD are already seeing promising results behind closed doors.
What This Means for Gamers
For PlayStation fans, this is a game-changer. The leap to FSR 4 will allow for higher resolution gaming at faster frame rates, even on demanding next-gen titles. Developers will have more flexibility, as they won’t need to sacrifice performance to achieve stunning visuals.
Additionally, this partnership ensures that the PS5 Pro will remain competitive with high-end gaming PCs and rival consoles that employ similar upscaling technologies.
Looking Ahead
The PlayStation 5 Pro, powered by FSR 4 enhancements, is expected to hit its stride in 2026, just in time for a new wave of visually demanding titles. With AMD and Sony’s collaboration, gamers can expect their consoles to deliver experiences that rival some of the best PC gaming rigs.
This move signals a broader trend in the gaming industry—one where AI and machine learning are integral parts of the visual pipeline. And if this is what’s coming for the PlayStation 5 Pro, it’s exciting to imagine where future consoles will go next.
Key Takeaways
- AMD and Sony collaborated to develop FSR 4, which will arrive on PlayStation consoles in 2026.
- FSR 4 uses neural network technology to deliver better image quality and performance than previous versions.
- This partnership strengthens AMD’s position in console hardware while expanding Sony’s technical capabilities across both PC and PlayStation platforms.
Announcement and Technology Overview
AMD and Sony have revealed their joint development of FSR 4 technology, bringing advanced AI upscaling capabilities to both PC gaming and PlayStation consoles. This partnership builds on existing technology to create better gaming visuals with less performance impact.
Collaboration Between AMD and Sony
AMD’s partnership with Sony has produced significant results with the development of FSR 4 (FidelityFX Super Resolution 4). The collaboration was announced at CES 2025, highlighting how the two companies combined their expertise in graphics technology.
Sony contributed its experience from developing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for the PS5. AMD brought its knowledge of PC graphics hardware and previous FSR iterations.
Together, they’ve created a more powerful upscaling solution than either could have developed independently. Mark Cerny, PlayStation’s lead system architect, confirmed that the technology exchange went both ways, with AMD gaining Sony’s AI expertise while Sony benefits from AMD’s broader hardware compatibility.
FSR 4: The Next Evolution in Upscaling
FSR 4 represents a significant leap forward in upscaling technology with its neural network foundation. Unlike previous FSR versions, it uses machine learning to enhance image quality more intelligently.
The technology works by rendering games at lower resolutions then upscaling them to higher resolutions. This process saves GPU resources while maintaining visual quality. FSR 4 adds improved edge detection and texture preservation compared to earlier versions.
Key improvements include:
- Better image quality at the same performance level
- Reduced latency compared to competing technologies
- Compatibility with a wide range of hardware
- Advanced frame generation features
FSR 4 is designed to work with AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 GPUs but will also support older hardware, making it accessible to more gamers.
Integration With Sony PlayStation
Sony plans to implement a version of FSR 4 on PlayStation consoles starting with the PS5 Pro. This implementation is described as a “reimplementation” of AMD’s technology specifically optimized for PlayStation hardware.
The console version is expected to arrive in 2026, enhancing game performance and visual quality across PlayStation titles. Mark Cerny has confirmed that work has “already started to implement the new neural networks” into PlayStation systems.
This technology will complement the existing PSSR system on PlayStation consoles. For gamers, this means sharper visuals without sacrificing frame rates.
Sony’s custom version will likely be tailored to the fixed hardware specifications of PlayStation consoles, potentially offering better optimization than the more general PC version of FSR 4.
Impact on the Gaming Industry
The collaboration between AMD and Sony on FSR 4 technology marks a significant shift in gaming graphics capabilities across both PC and console platforms. This partnership has implications for gaming performance, competitive positioning against Nvidia, and the overall market landscape.
Enhanced Gaming Performance
FSR 4 represents a major leap in upscaling technology, enabling games to run at higher frame rates while maintaining visual quality. The technology leverages AI to deliver sharper images when scaling from lower to higher resolutions. This is particularly valuable for 4K gaming, where maintaining smooth frame rates has traditionally required powerful hardware.
On the PS5 Pro, Sony plans to implement this technology as the “next evolution of PSSR” starting in 2026. This integration will allow console games to benefit from the same advanced upscaling techniques available to PC gamers with Radeon graphics cards.
The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, which launched with FSR 4 support, show significant performance gains in modern titles. Games can run 30-40% faster at 4K resolutions compared to native rendering, without noticeable quality loss.
Comparison With Nvidia Solutions
FSR 4 directly competes with Nvidia’s DLSS technology, particularly the recent DLSS 4 implementation. While Nvidia’s solution requires specialized tensor cores in GeForce RTX cards, AMD’s approach works across a wider range of hardware.
The neural network foundations of FSR 4 show AMD’s commitment to closing the gap with Nvidia’s AI-based upscaling. Early benchmarks suggest FSR 4 delivers comparable quality to DLSS in many scenarios, though Nvidia may still hold an edge in some ray tracing workloads.
Cross-platform availability gives FSR 4 a significant advantage. While DLSS remains exclusive to Nvidia hardware, FSR 4 works on PlayStation consoles and various PC graphics cards, creating a larger ecosystem for developers to support.
Market Availability and Pricing
FSR 4 launched alongside AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 series cards, with the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT being the first to support the technology. Wider adoption is expected as more games implement the feature in 2025 and 2026.
The technology comes at no additional cost to consumers who own compatible hardware. This differs from premium features that might require specific product tiers or subscriptions.
For PlayStation gamers, FSR 4 will arrive through system updates rather than requiring new hardware purchases. This approach ensures more players can access improved graphics without additional investment.
Game developers benefit from a unified implementation approach that works across both PlayStation consoles and PC platforms. This streamlines development efforts and encourages more widespread adoption of the technology in upcoming titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
AMD and Sony have joined forces to develop FSR 4 technology, creating important advancements in gaming graphics that affect both console and PC platforms.
What is FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4, and how does it work?
FSR 4 is AMD’s latest upscaling technology that makes games look better while maintaining good performance. It works by taking lower-resolution images and enhancing them to appear as if they were rendered at higher resolutions.
The technology uses advanced AI models to predict what higher resolution details should look like. This process reduces the workload on graphics cards while still delivering crisp visuals.
How does AMD’s collaboration with Sony benefit the performance of FSR 4 technology?
Sony provided assistance with the models used to train FSR 4, including PlayStation Spectral technology. This collaboration helped AMD create more accurate and efficient upscaling algorithms.
The partnership allows for optimization specifically for PlayStation hardware. Sony’s experience with console graphics processing contributed valuable insights that improved FSR 4’s overall quality and performance.
What games are expected to support FSR 4 following the AMD and Sony partnership?
While specific game titles haven’t been fully announced, PlayStation 5 Pro games will likely be among the first to benefit from FSR 4 technology. Sony is working on implementing the technology into their ecosystem.
Popular cross-platform titles that already support previous FSR versions will probably add FSR 4 support. Games that demand high visual fidelity while maintaining smooth framerates are prime candidates.
Can FSR 4 be applied to both PC and console gaming platforms?
Yes, FSR 4 is designed to work across multiple platforms including PCs and consoles. The technology was developed with cross-platform compatibility in mind.
Sony is specifically creating a “reimplementation” of FSR 4 for the PS5 Pro. This version is expected to produce essentially the same outputs as the PC version but optimized for PlayStation hardware.
What are the differences between FSR 4 and previous iterations of the technology?
FSR 4 offers improved image quality compared to earlier versions with better edge detection and detail preservation. The technology also introduces more advanced AI-based upscaling methods.
Processing efficiency has been enhanced, allowing for better performance even on less powerful hardware. FSR 4 likely reduces artifacts and visual anomalies that were present in previous versions.
How might AMD’s partnership with Sony influence future developments in gaming graphics and processing?
This partnership could lead to more console-optimized graphics technologies making their way to PC platforms and vice versa. The shared research benefits both companies and their respective hardware ecosystems.
Future iterations of console hardware might incorporate AMD graphics technology more deeply. The collaboration might also result in more standardized upscaling solutions across the gaming industry, creating more consistent experiences for gamers regardless of platform.
