AMD and Microsoft have announced the arrival of FSR 4.1 in the ecosystem Xbox, with the aim of improving performance and visual quality of games on an ever-growing number of devices. The new upscaling technology will debut initially on the Ally portable devices ROG Xbox Ally, while for Xbox Series X and Series S, further announcements will be needed. The update represents a significant step for AMD, which aims to extend its solution beyond the traditional market PC.
How FSR 4.1 works and what improvements it introduces
For those unfamiliar with the technology, FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) allows a game to be rendered at a lower resolution than the final output, then reconstructs the image to achieve a sharper result. In this way, the system can reduce the workload on the GPU and redirect freed-up resources to improve performance.
With FSR 4, initially known as Project Redstone, AMD has introduced a machine learning-based upscaling system, machine learning, aiming to deliver superior image quality compared to previous versions of the technology. The package also includes features such as frame generation and ray tracing reconstruction, expanding the tools available to developers.
The arrival of FSR 4.1 in the ecosystem Xbox could therefore lead to improvements in both fluidity and graphical quality, though the actual results will depend on individual games and how the technology is implemented.
ROG Xbox The Ally will receive the update on 23 October
The first platforms to receive FSR 4.1 will be the ROG Xbox Ally, including the variants based on the Z2 Extreme and Z2A chips. Support will therefore also cover the base model, as well as ROG Xbox Ally X and the new ROG Xbox Ally X20 mentioned in the announcement.
The rollout will begin on 23 October, initially via a preview version. To try the feature, you'll need to open Armoury Crate SE, go to the Update Center section, and select Update Center and select Preview Updates. Once installed, a new toggle dedicated to the technology will appear in the Command Center.
As this is a preliminary version, bugs or stability issues may occur. Users interested in activating the feature should therefore take these factors into account before doing so, pending a wider and more stable release.
Xbox Series The X and Series S could gain new performance improvements.
Regarding Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Microsoft has not yet announced a specific date. The company has confirmed that the technology will also arrive on consoles, for now limiting itself to indicating a generic arrival soon.
The benefits could prove particularly interesting for Xbox Series S, a machine that has often forced developers to make technical compromises to adapt games to its hardware resources, especially regarding memory. A more advanced upscaling system could offer greater flexibility in managing resolution, reducing the need to always rely on native rendering.
Also Xbox Series X could benefit from the update. In some games, greater resource availability might allow for improved graphical effects or the evaluation of more demanding features, such as ray tracing, even in performance-optimised modes. However, these are possibilities tied to developer choices and not guaranteed improvements across every title.
Over 400 compatible games and new supported platforms
During the presentation, AMD indicated over 400 games compatible with FSR 4.1, referring to titles that currently support FSR 3.1. Among them are titles such as 007 First Light, Gears of War E-Day and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. To demonstrate the results achievable, the company also selected The Blood of Dawnwalker, used in a dedicated comparison of the technology.
The expansion doesn't just cover the ecosystem. XboxAMD has also announced support extensions for Radeon RX 6000 graphics cards, mini PCs and mobile workstations based on the Gorgon Halo and Strix Halo platforms, as well as Ryzen 9 laptops using the same solutions. PC .
On, support is delivered via the AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 26.10.1 drivers. PC, the support arrives via the drivers AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 26.10.1. According to ASUS, the update enables the feature on various processors from the Ryzen AI Max and Ryzen AI 9 families, adding support for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and Final Fantasy Resonance. AMD plans to expand compatibility further in the future, including additional APU models and Vulkan-based games.
AMD and Microsoft are already looking ahead to Project Helix
The announcement was accompanied by statements from representatives of AMD, ASUS and XboxScott Van Vilet, CTO of Xbox, reasserted the importance of the collaboration between Microsoft and AMD, active for over two decades and fundamental to the development of the company's gaming platforms.
The executive also confirmed that the collaboration will continue with Project Helix, the next family of devices that will utilise FSR Diamond, AMD's next-generation technology.
With FSR 4.1, AMD aims to make its upscaler accessible to a wider audience, overcoming the limitations of unofficial community implementations. It remains to be seen what the actual improvements will be across each platform and when official support will arrive on consoles. Xbox. ROG Xbox Ally's update on 23 October will be the first real test to evaluate the new technology's potential.
