For the PS5 Pro, Sony is actively promoting its new graphics technology “PSSR.” But what does the abbreviation actually hide and what does it mean for players who want to buy a PS5 Pro? And can it also be used on the old PS5 Slim? MeinMMO explains it all.
With the PS5 Pro, manufacturer Sony not only presented a new and especially improved PS5, but also named several technical enhancements. Among them is the graphics technology “PSSR.” Some journalists are already enthusiastic about PSSR and praise its advantages.
But what is “PSSR” and what does it bring to the PS5 Pro? MeinMMO explains the term and what lies behind it.
- What is PSSR? The technology explained and all advantages in detail
- PSSR on the PS5 Pro: Disadvantages and alternatives
- PSSR: Which games are supported?
- Can you use PSSR on the PS5 Slim?
PSSR explained and the advantages in detail
What does “PSSR” stand for? PSSR is an acronym for “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.” Each of the four letters stands for an independent word.
What is PSSR? PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution is a so-called upscaling technology. Simply put, the game is calculated at a low resolution, such as Full HD, and then upscaled to the correct resolution using AI. Mark Cerny, the chief architect behind the PS5, says:
We added specialized hardware for machine learning and an AI library called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR for short. PSSR analyzes the game frames pixel by pixel and can add an extraordinary amount of detail, increasing the effective resolution of the games.
What does PSSR bring? The scaling using “PSSR” has a significant advantage. Calculating a game at a low resolution costs significantly less power than if the game had to be run directly at the correct native resolution. Generally, the game runs much smoother and faster because the console simply has to calculate less. And that has multiple advantages:
- PSSR helps the console to achieve consistent frame rates even with graphically demanding games.
- PSSR helps the PS5 Pro also to remain future-proof, as the console can handle demanding games thanks to PSSR.
In other words: PSSR uses artificial intelligence to make your games look sharper, clearer, and more detailed without putting additional strain on the console’s performance.
PSSR on the PS5 Pro: Disadvantages and alternatives
Are there disadvantages of PSSR? Some players criticize that PSSR does not represent a native or true resolution. Upon careful inspection, certain artifacts or inconsistencies can always be noticed with upscaling technologies. For example, in faces or irregular shapes. Other games lament that features like upscaling prevent developers from optimizing their games.
However, a definitive conclusion can only be reached once the PS5 Pro is officially available in stores and we can put PSSR to the test.
Is there PSSR on PC as well? Partially. While PSSR is not available on PC, PC manufacturers have developed their own upscaling technologies for computers: FSR (AMD), XeSS (Intel), and DLSS (Nvidia). In practice, these technologies all work the same or at least very similarly.
However, it is important that Sony did not simply copy PC technology but specifically developed its upscaling technology for the PS5 Pro. And with that, the PS5 Pro is the first console that can do this at all. For the Nintendo Switch 2, it is at least speculated that DLSS will be included.
PSSR: Which games and what about the PS5 Slim?
Which games support PSSR? If you want to use PSSR on the PS5 Pro, the games must be supported by the PS5 Pro. Sony refers to these games as “PS5 Pro Enhanced.” You can find all games supported by the PS5 Pro directly on MeinMMO as a list.
Can you use PSSR on the PS5 Slim? No, you cannot at this time and it should not be possible. According to Sony, PSSR relies on the new hardware of the PS5 Pro, which is not available in either the normal PS5 or the Slim model. If you want to use PSSR, you need not only the right game but also the right console.
More about the PS5 Pro: The PS5 and PS5 Pro look very similar at first glance, as Sony has hardly changed the design at all. But where are the similarities and especially the differences between the PS5 and PS5 Pro? MeinMMO presents all the details and explains what you should pay attention to: PS5 Pro vs PS5 comparison: What similarities and differences are there?
