Introduction

In a groundbreaking development last week, AMD launched its latest graphics hardware leveraging the revolutionary RDNA 4 architecture, significantly elevating machine learning capabilities. This leap paves the way for FSR 4, a cutting-edge machine learning-based upscaler that rivals Nvidia's DLSS technology, promising gamers an exceptional visual experience.

Collaboration on FSR 4

AMD revealed that FSR 4 was co-developed alongside Sony as part of their ambitious Project Amethyst. In an exclusive interview with Digital Foundry, PlayStation's chief system architect, Mark Cerny, stated, "Our target is to integrate a technology similar to FSR 4’s upscaler into the PS5 Pro for titles set to release in 2026; this represents the next evolution of the PlayStation Super Resolution (PSSR)."

Cerny further elaborated that the neural network and training framework behind FSR 4 mark the initial achievements of the collaboration, yielding outstanding results. "It's an advanced method that surpasses the clarity of PSSR. I am incredibly proud of what our teams have accomplished together!" he remarked.

Performance and Comparison

To witness the stunning upgrade FSR 4 offers, viewers can check out a video comparison of the new upscaler against AMD's earlier version, FSR 3.1, while also stacking it up against Nvidia's DLSS 3.7 and the latest DLSS 4.0. Early assessments indicate that FSR 4 is a significant step up from its predecessor, claiming quality advantages over DLSS 3.7, with competitive elements when compared to DLSS 4.0.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the exciting developments, Cerny acknowledges that bringing this new technology to PlayStation 5 Pro will require time and effort. "In 2025, we will focus on partnering with developers to embed PSSR into their games; simultaneously, we’ve begun implementing the new neural network on PS5 Pro. Achieving functionality akin to FSR 4’s upscaler for the PS5 Pro is ambitious and time-consuming, which is why it isn't already present," he explained.

Specifications and Performance Targets

The specifications of AMD’s new RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards surpass those of the PS5 Pro, highlighting a competitive mid-range market of GPUs priced between $200 and $2000. While our evaluations indicate that FSR 4 demands substantial computational resources, Cerny remains optimistic, believing that the PS5 Pro’s machine learning hardware can handle FSR 4 efficiently without extensive redesign.

"The PS5 Pro targets peak performance of 300 TOPS in 8-bit operations without sparsity, a figure that holds its ground against AMD’s recently released GPUs," Cerny noted, emphasizing that sparsity is not needed for this specific upscaling function.

Sparsity and Hardware Differences

Sparsity, a technique that involves reducing specific computations within a neural network to boost efficiency, is supported in RDNA 4 but not in the PS5 Pro. Nvidia has employed sparsity technology to enhance DLSS performance in their ‘Ampere’ series.

Cerny explained that RDNA 4 and the PS5 Pro’s hardware are distinct designs, reinforcing his statement that the new upscaling network in FSR 4 will require a reimplementation for the PS5 Pro. "I look forward to future improvements in co-developed hardware features for machine learning that enhance interoperability," he remarked.

Project Amethyst's Ambitions

The Amethyst project appears to be a multifaceted initiative poised to extend beyond the PS5 Pro’s lifespan into the subsequent generation of consoles. This collaboration hints at a convergence in design philosophies, moving away from Sony’s custom solutions.

"Our short-term goal is to co-develop neural network designs and training approaches tailored to game graphics," Cerny stated. "By combining our strengths, we can tackle challenges more effectively. We started this collaboration in earnest in late 2023 when PSSR development concluded, and I’m thrilled to report tangible outcomes already."

The long-term ambition involves crafting an optimized hardware architecture for machine learning, geared towards processing neural networks for graphical representations swiftly. "The PS5 Pro journey has been a valuable learning experience, and AMD brings extensive knowledge from their RDNA evolution," Cerny explained.

Technological Impact Beyond PS5 Pro

Notably, this technology transcends the PlayStation ecosystem, aimed at advancing machine learning across a multitude of devices. "Our ultimate success is when developers can seamlessly adapt their code across platforms," he added.

AMD’s GPUOpen initiative has historically shared the company's innovations, and observers will be intrigued to see how this philosophy evolves in the machine learning space. For example, AMD’s Jack Huynh mentioned the potential of utilizing FSR 4 and frame generation technologies to significantly enhance battery efficiency in mobile devices.

Looking Towards the Future

Project Amethyst symbolizes a joint venture toward shared objectives, recognizing that both companies may leverage the created technologies differently for diverse applications. Cerny stated, "FSR 4 and this new iteration of PSSR serve as a blueprint for our future, paving the way for proprietary implementations of algorithms we develop together."

As for the PS5 Pro’s key enhancements, including machine learning and ray tracing, they will be central focuses in the Amethyst project too. Following the RDNA 4 reveal, AMD showcased a demo utilizing various techniques—including path tracing and neural rendering technologies—that resemble Nvidia's ray reconstruction strategies. Is this aligned with Amethyst? "Stay tuned!" Cerny concluded. "The potential for our Amethyst collaboration is vast, and we recognize that ray tracing is crucial to the graphics future."

Conclusion

Stay updated as the landscape of gaming graphics leaps forward with these innovations!