AMD Brings FSR 4.1 Upscaling to Xbox Series X/S and ROG Ally Handhelds
AMD says its newest AI upscaler, FSR 4.1, is coming to Xbox Series X, Series S and the ROG Ally handhelds, though no release date or performance figures have been given.
AMD has announced that its latest AI-driven upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, is heading to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the ROG Ally X handheld. The news comes shortly after Sony brought a similar feature, QSSR, to the standard PS5.
Which devices get FSR 4.1
According to VGC, the list covers Xbox Series X/S consoles and the ASUS Xbox ROG Ally X. Eurogamer's report names Series X, Series S, and the ROG Ally and Ally X handhelds. The sources differ slightly on whether the original Ally is included, so the Ally X is the only handheld both clearly name.
An older version of FSR is already supported on Xbox. FSR 4.1 is AMD's most advanced release. Eurogamer notes it previously arrived on Steam Machine and Steam Deck.
What performance gains to expect
FSR renders a game at a lower resolution and then uses machine learning to upscale it. VGC describes it as AMD's equivalent of Nvidia's DLSS, which can also generate frames and improve ray tracing.
In theory, developers can render at a lower resolution and upscale to 4K in a way that looks close to native. That could make it easier to reach 60fps or 120fps with little loss in visual quality, VGC says. Eurogamer adds that the tech can also give more consistent performance.
Neither source offers measured results for Xbox. Eurogamer says all Xbox platforms should benefit, but the Series S and the more hardware-constrained Ally handhelds could see the biggest gains. It also frames the move as a way to extend the life of the Series consoles.
The benefit also depends on developers. VGC says that games will see improvements only if studios opt to use modern upscaling tech.
What Xbox and AMD said
Van Vliet said in a video posted by AMD that the companies have worked closely to optimise the technology. He called it "another powerful tool" for developers. His remarks referred to Xbox Ally handhelds, with the technology "coming soon" to Series S and X consoles.
He also said, "This is just the beginning," and pointed to Project Helix, which he said will use FSR Diamond "to power what comes next." The sources do not explain what FSR Diamond is.
How it compares with PlayStation
Sony recently introduced QSSR for the standard PS5. It is a machine-learning upscaler described as the less capable sibling of PSSR, which is exclusive to PS5 Pro. VGC says QSSR was then patched into Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei.
With FSR 4.1, both Xbox Series X/S and PS5 will support modern upscaling. Eurogamer says it will be interesting to compare image quality against QSSR, but no such comparison exists yet.
What it means for you
If you own a Series S, Series X or ROG Ally X, you don't need to do anything yet. AMD has not said when FSR 4.1 will arrive on the Series consoles, though VGC says it will come in an upcoming update. Any visible improvement will depend on which games add support, so watch for patch notes from individual developers. Eurogamer expects the biggest gains on the Series S and the more hardware-constrained handhelds.
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Quick answers
Is FSR 4.1 available on Xbox Series consoles now?
Not yet. Van Vliet described it as "coming soon" for Series S and X, and AMD gave no date.
Will every Xbox game use FSR 4.1?
No. Developers have to choose to use modern upscaling tech in their games, according to VGC.
Does the PS5 have something similar?
Yes. The standard PS5 has QSSR, and the PS5 Pro has the more capable PSSR.
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