Standard PS5 gains Sony’s AI upscaling in two game updates
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Sony has brought AI upscaling to the standard PS5, with patches for Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei making them the first games to support Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR). The move matters because it extends an image-enhancement feature previously available only on the more powerful PS5 Pro, and Sony says developers across PlayStation can add QSSR to their games.
Sony says QSSR uses a streamlined neural network and performance-tuned implementation developed from work with AMD, aiming to improve image detail and stability. Insomniac’s technology chief said it brings extra clarity to environments in Wolverine; QSSR arrives in Ghost of Yōtei alongside a complete edition featuring a story expansion and roguelike mode, with existing owners able to upgrade for $15.
- AI upscaling comes to the standard PS5 as QSSR.
- Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei are the first supported games.
- Ghost of Yōtei’s complete-edition upgrade costs $15.
New here? Start with this
The PlayStation 5 is Sony's gaming console released in 2020. Sony later released a more powerful version called the PS5 Pro. Recently, Sony introduced a technology that uses artificial intelligence to make games look sharper and more detailed—a feature that was initially only available on the Pro model.
This technology, called QSSR, improves how game images appear without requiring developers to create new artwork or for players to buy a new console. Making it available on the standard PS5 means more players can enjoy the visual improvements. It also means developers are now free to add this feature to any of their PlayStation games if they choose.
Two games—Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei—have already been updated to support this technology on the standard PS5. The technology was developed by Sony working alongside AMD, the company that makes processors for many computers and gaming devices.
Full account
Sony has introduced Quick Spectral Super Resolution, an artificial intelligence-driven enhancement tool now extended to the standard PlayStation 5 console. Until now, such automated upscaling capabilities have been the exclusive domain of the PS5 Pro, which has enjoyed access to PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution since its debut approximately two years ago.
The technology emerged from collaborative research between Sony and semiconductor manufacturer AMD, resulting in a compact neural network design coupled with optimised code execution. The company acknowledged that both consumers and developers had expressed interest in delivering similar visual refinements to the entry-level PS5 model, prompting the creation of a version tailored to its less demanding hardware specifications.
Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei are the inaugural titles introducing QSSR functionality to players through simultaneous patches. Wolverine's creator, Insomniac Games, highlighted improvements to pixel-level definition and visual consistency across busy urban locations within the game. Ghost of Yōtei's developer Sucker Punch simultaneously released an expanded edition featuring additional narrative content and a challenge-based mode, with existing owners able to upgrade for £15.
The company intends to make the technology accessible to the broader development community, suggesting the potential for gradual proliferation throughout the PS5 catalogue. Nevertheless, performance requirements differ markedly from the pro model; preliminary analysis indicates developers may need to opt for lower resolution targets during processing to preserve consistent frame rates. Specialists have noted that the system functions as a near-seamless conversion for games already incorporating PSSR support, in some scenarios requiring only minor technical adjustment.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 emphasises game-specific implementations and includes commentary from Insomniac Games; Source 2 prioritises broader technical architecture and platform-wide implications
Source 1 details game content additions and upgrade pricing; Source 2 focuses on performance trade-offs and resolution requirements across the standard console
Source 2 references independent technical testing of performance characteristics; Source 1 contains no performance analysis or benchmarking data
Source 2 characterises QSSR as a 'drop-in replacement' for PSSR; Source 1 emphasises visual quality improvements without addressing software compatibility
Source 1 foregrounds developer perspectives from Insomniac; Source 2 includes Sony engineering commentary and references third-party technical assessment
More coverage
AI Entertainment Gaming Paranormal Technology Weird & Viral
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Engadget as “Sony brings AI upscaling to the base PS5”.