Sony is debuting a new technology with the PS5 Pro called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR for short.
While the buzzword may sound exciting, you may be scratching your head wondering what PSSR is and why it matters. We’re going to dig into all of those details on this page as part of our PS5 guide.
What Is PSSR?
PSSR is a proprietary AI-based upscaler, similar to NVidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS. Its introduction is significant, because it’s the first time technology of this type has existed on consoles.
Sony has described PSSR as one of the three reasons to upgrade to the PS5 Pro. In its announcement presentation, it listed the AI-based upscaler alongside a larger GPU and advanced ray tracing as one of the console’s flagship features.
In layman’s terms, AI-based upscaling analyses the image on screen and improves the resolution using machine learning. This means that PSSR is able to take a lower resolution image and reproduce it at a higher resolution, making it seem clearer than it actually is.
A good way to think of it is like putting on a pair of spectacles. The pictures you see without your glasses may be blurred or imprecise; putting on your glasses makes them sharp and clear. PSSR uses AI-based upscaling to produce similar results.
What Does PSSR Do?
PSSR produces higher resolution pictures from lower resolution sources. This reduces the computational overhead associated with rendering games at higher resolutions, because developers can target lower resolutions and still achieve a similar level of image quality.
In simpler terms, this means developers can point the PS5’s power at other areas of importance, like lighting and ray tracing. A lower resolution image with all of these features enabled can then use PSSR to achieve a clean 4K picture.
Because PSSR is AI-based, it can be trained on the games you play, so its ability to upscale will improve significantly over time. That means the picture quality will get better and better with each iteration, meaning the solution will likely be in an even better position when the PS6 releases.
Are There Any Disadvantages to PSSR?
PSSR isn’t perfect and it’s important to remember this is Sony’s first attempt at implementing the technology. Because it’s an upscaler, sometimes it may misinterpret the image it’s recreating, leading to graphical errors.
The margin for error grows the poorer the source picture is, so it’s important developers still output a decent quality image before applying PSSR to it. If the upscaler can’t understand what it’s seeing, then it may struggle to recreate it.
Does PSSR Work on a Normal PS5?
PSSR doesn’t work on a normal PS5 because the upscaler requires additional computational power to function. As the original PS5 wasn’t designed with this technology in mind, it’s not available.
It’s possible Sony could release an upgraded version of the PS5 in the future which includes additional power to enable PSSR, although it’s more likely it will promote it as a reason to upgrade to the more capable PS5 Pro.
Will PSSR Be Used on PS6?
It’s highly likely that Sony will continue to iterate upon PSSR with the PS6. As mentioned previously, AI-based upscalers improve over time, so the company is getting a headstart by introducing this technology now.
By the time the PS6 releases, PSSR will be a more mature upscaler capable of better results. This means it’ll exhibit fewer graphical inconsistencies or glitches. It means PS6 developers will once again be able to push the capabilities of the console without necessarily needing to focus on native resolutions.
While we can’t say definitively whether PSSR will be used on PS6, it seems highly likely that Sony is introducing a technology designed to last with the PS5 Pro.
What are your thoughts on PSSR? Do you think AI-based upscalers are the future for consoles, and are you excited by the possibilities of this technology? Which games do you think will benefit most from PSSR, and why? Paint a clearer picture in the comments section below.
Comments 33
@LowDefAl I find it great as well, dear @PushSquare team!
What worries me is that good graphics among the generations ps4 ps4 ps5 - it always stays at 30 fps. For more than a decade we are stuck on this....a decade.
Another benefit of AI-based super-sampling is that it doubles as a form of anti-aliasing - eliminating the need to use TAA (which softens the image).
If it amplifies/misinterprets graphical issues already present, can the feature be turned off for games that it doesn’t play nicely with? If not, will those games look worse over time as a result of the AI “learning” the wrong improvement process?
Shouldn't it be PSSSR?
Easily the most exciting thing about the Pro and the future of PS consoles.
All I know is I watched those videos yesterday on YouTube at 4K that Gabriel Master posted.
On a top end Sony 65”tv and dam Spider-Man 2 was so sharp and so was last of us 2 and so dam smooth with PSSR and 60fps combined.
And panning around looked crisp and flowed with a graceful motion.
Looking forward to Thursday.
Now that was on YouTube, so I guess the real thing will look a bit better.
@GamingFan4Lyf weirdly, despite the name this isn't super sampling.
This takes a low resolution and makes the picture appear ti be at a higher resolution.
Super sampling is the opposite, it takes a more detailed picture and scales it down to a lower resolution to give a better image to those people who don't have a UHD tv. This was available on the PS4 pro.
"PSSR isn’t perfect and it’s important to remember this is Sony’s first attempt at implementing the technology"
Translation: Wait for the PS6.
OK. Nice gadget... now give us PS1, PS2 and PS3 emulator.
Excellent article. Explained it well.
It should be noted that this is simply the first implimentation of this new upscaler and its already very performant, and updates can and will be recived via future patches. Given Sonys undoubted pedegree in picture processing (their TVs are widely regarded to have the best motion processing and upscaling), its not unreasonable to suspect this will become even better pretty quickly.
I was pondering about buying a Pro to lift my gaming experience to the next level. Instead I traded in my 5 year old television for a new one (Samsung 65QN93D) I’m getting tomorrow. Can’t wait to try it out! I’m sure this will make a bigger impact than playing with a Pro on my old tv.
So at the end of the day, like many of us have said, it’s up to developers to justify their pay. Sounds good, don’t half ass your job and AI won’t be as appealing to bring in as your replacement.
I’m sorry for being grim, but laziness and incompetence are far too commonplace. The guy from Starfield (lead designer or something?) that basically went on a warpath and said game development is hard and BG3 shouldn’t be looked to as a precedent despite having a fraction of Starfield budget is a great example of who to fire so their job can be done using AI. Years of telling consumers to vote with our wallets, and now that we’re doing this you’re upset? Rivers that way, friend.
It's PSSSR, Sony, and you know it.
@Darude84
This is probably very true. Going from UHD to a large Oled changed my experience drastically.
But then you'll want a pro to take advantage of that.
Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but anyone else remember being able to just buy a console to play a fun game without worrying about how powerful or “upscaling” it could do?
@ChimpMasta I remember when you needed a super powerful GPU just to use AA because it was incredibly expensive - FXAA and TAA didn't exist, then though. Even at 1024 x 768 resolution you couldn't use AA unless you had the right hardware.
My glasses would be aimed a little lower.
@LifeGirl Agreed. I'm even more sold on not buying a Pro lest I feel like a guinea pig. That's just me though; I'm cautious. So I actually very much appreciate the early adopters in this case. The more real-world info Sony can get out of the Pro in preparation for the 6 the better.
@Loamy can we trade citizenships if you feel that way lol
@LifeGirl ""PSSR isn’t perfect and it’s important to remember this is Sony’s first attempt at implementing the technology""
I find that quote so amusing. "Please beware this $700 product is just a beta test, just excuse the company for design flaws. They tried hard. You should offer them encouragement, understanding, and most of all, money, so they can learn from their mistakes and sell someone (you) something better after further R&D (you) provided time (and money) to them.
Yeah, DLSS isn't perfect either and AI upscaling will never be perfect, but this kind of soft-sell language to just accept an underbaked product for high price points because "getting products finished is hard." Rationalizing and justifying ever higher costs for ever less finished products has been the game for the tech media (and fandom) for so long it's become an expected normal.
@symmetrian Haha, this worries me a bit…
@OldGamer999
I found those videos after our conversation yesterday - pretty impressive, particularly as we said yesterday given Youtubes limitations.
Finally a good psser thread
From the Rebirth footage we saw the difference looks enormous. If that is running at locked 60fps I’ll be staggered! Can’t wait to find out.. two more days kidddas
@NEStalgia what are you on about? The quote you find amusing is from the writer on this site, not Sony! benefits are tangible as we will find out on Thursday
@Rich33
Glad you found them
Nearly Thursday
@OldGamer999 @Mikey856
2 more sleeps...
@Coffeeglitch Well isn't he right about game design being hard? I so often hear people call devs lazy and incompetent. But i always have the feeling that it comes from people who know nothing of game development. Now if thats not the case ill take my words back.
Look im far from knowledgeable on this subject.
But developing a game is one of the hardest things to do.
Creating a game takes a lot of highly skilled people. People with a very diverse range of skillsets, from programmers to artists, sound engineers, AI, testers, writers, you name it. Who need to create something cohesive together. Which takes hundreds of people years to accomplish. Its the most technically complicated form of media to create. And it takes the longest. Even smaller AA or indie titles might take years to develop.
Plus lots of devs have to crunch or work overtime and in this industry, a lot of them are constantly stressed about deadlines, game failures and job losses.
"Its introduction is significant, because it’s the first time technology of this type has existed on consoles."
Does AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution not count?
@Rich33 check your details mine is now “on its way” 🔥🔥🔥
@Mikey856
Same here - 'on its way' - though the only tracking I can see is 'awaiting carrier pickup'
@TheJamesHollan
Not really. FSR is a software based upscaler, similar to all other upscaling systems currently available to present consoles (like Sonys own current in house systems, which i will add i always thought far superior in results to FSR).
PSSR and Nvidias DLSS (etc) have a hardware component - this is the Machine Learning / AI part of the GPU, which the software component uses in doing its calculations when upscaling. Hence why base PS5 cannot use PSSR because it doesnt have this hardware component.
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