AMD’s FSR 4: Revolutionizing Gaming Visuals with Machine Learning and RX 9000 Series

The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as AMD unveils its next-generation Radeon RX 9070 series graphics cards, promising unparalleled performance and breathtaking visuals. But the hardware isn’t the only star of the show. Alongside the new cards, AMD is introducing its highly anticipated FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) technology, poised to redefine image upscaling and enhancement in the gaming landscape. Details surrounding FSR 4 have emerged, painting a picture of a feature-rich technology poised to elevate the gaming experience across a wide range of titles.

FSR 4 represents a significant leap forward from its predecessors, leveraging machine learning to deliver image quality that rivals even the best in the industry, notably NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). This marks a pivotal moment for AMD, as they aim to close the gap and offer gamers a compelling alternative for achieving both high frame rates and stunning visual fidelity.

Unveiling FSR 4: A Deep Dive into the Technology

AMD has designed FSR 4 specifically to harness the power of the RX 9000 series graphics cards, optimizing performance and visual output to an unprecedented degree. The integration of machine learning is the key differentiator. Unlike previous versions that relied primarily on spatial upscaling techniques, FSR 4 employs advanced algorithms trained on vast datasets of high-resolution images. This allows the technology to intelligently reconstruct details and enhance textures, resulting in sharper, more defined images, even when upscaling from lower resolutions.

At CES 2025, a demonstration showcased FSR 4’s capabilities in games like "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart," highlighting a noticeable improvement in image quality compared to FSR 3.1. The demo clearly illustrated that FSR 4 produces images that retain finer details, exhibits reduced aliasing, and showcases more natural textures, all while maintaining a substantial performance boost. This demonstration served as a resounding endorsement of AMD’s commitment to quality and its intent to challenge the existing status quo in image upscaling.

Launch Lineup and Beyond: Games Embracing FSR 4

AMD is committed to a wide and rapid adoption of FSR 4, with plans to support over 30 games right from day one. The company anticipates integration into at least 75 games by the end of the year, a testament to the technology’s ease of implementation and the growing demand for performance-enhancing solutions.

The initial wave of FSR 4 optimized titles includes some of the most anticipated releases and critically acclaimed games in recent memory. Gamers can look forward to experiencing enhanced visuals in titles like:

• "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6": Experience the latest installment in the blockbuster franchise with enhanced clarity and performance, allowing for smoother gameplay and a more immersive experience.
• "Marvel’s Spider-Man 2": Swing through the vibrant cityscape of New York with unparalleled visual fidelity, witnessing every detail of the environment and character models.
• "The Last of Us Part I & II Remastered": Relive the emotionally charged stories of Joel and Ellie with enhanced textures, lighting, and overall image quality, breathing new life into these iconic titles.
• "Civilization 7": Command your civilization to greatness with improved graphical clarity and detail, enhancing the visual representation of your empire and its surroundings.
• "Horizon Forbidden West": Explore the lush and dangerous world of Aloy with breathtaking visuals, experiencing the intricate details of the environments and robotic creatures that inhabit them.

These titles represent a diverse range of genres and graphical styles, demonstrating the versatility and broad applicability of FSR 4.

Expanding the FSR 4 Ecosystem: Manual Application and Partner Studios

Beyond the specifically optimized titles, AMD is also enabling gamers to manually apply FSR 4 to games that already support FSR 3.1. This opens up a vast library of games to benefit from the new technology, albeit with potentially varying degrees of optimization. Games like "Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl," "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024," "Silent Hill 2 Remake," "Final Fantasy XVI," and "The Finals" are among those that could potentially see improvements through manual FSR 4 application.

AMD has forged strong partnerships with a number of leading game development studios, ensuring optimal integration and support for FSR 4. These collaborations include industry giants like Naughty Dog (The Last of Us, Uncharted), Insomniac Games (Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank), Guerrilla (Horizon), and SEGA (Sonic, Yakuza). These partnerships signify a commitment to long-term support and continuous improvement of FSR 4 across a wide spectrum of games.

Performance Mode Adjustments: A Streamlined Approach

In an effort to provide a more consistent and user-friendly experience, AMD has made some adjustments to the performance modes available within FSR 4. The "ultra-performance" mode, which was present in previous iterations, has been removed. The lowest available setting in FSR 4 will now be "performance mode," which will rescale the game by halving its resolution. This means that, for example, a 4K display will be rendered at 1080p before being upscaled to 4K.

This change indicates a shift towards prioritizing image quality and avoiding extreme upscaling that can often result in noticeable artifacts and a loss of detail. AMD believes that this streamlined approach will provide a more balanced trade-off between performance and visual fidelity.

Conclusion: A New Era of Visual Excellence

AMD’s FSR 4 technology represents a significant advancement in image upscaling and enhancement. By leveraging the power of machine learning and partnering with leading game developers, AMD is poised to deliver a gaming experience that is both visually stunning and performance-driven. The combination of the new Radeon RX 9070 series graphics cards and FSR 4 is set to usher in a new era of visual excellence, providing gamers with the tools they need to enjoy their favorite titles at the highest possible settings. As FSR 4 continues to evolve and expand its support across a wider range of games, it will undoubtedly become a cornerstone of PC gaming, solidifying AMD’s position as a leader in innovation and technology.