The partnership that can change the game. FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Microsoft.
An alliance that is creating an earthquake in the video game industry and it's only the beginning!
What is AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution?
AMD's objective through FidelityFX Super Resolution is to improve image definition using artificial intelligence ( AI ). The graphics card will then calculate the images in low resolution to limit the calculation time. The uncalculated information as well as the resizing of the image with the new rendering is done by the AI.
This process will increase the frequency of images generated while improving graphic renderings. FideliityFX is currently Nvidia's only direct competitor with its DLSS.
Why is the FSR upsetting the balance of forces?
AMD has announced that Xbox Series S|X now supports the FidelityFX . The move, which brought previously PC-centric technologies into Microsoft's latest generation gaming consoles, will bring feature merging between RDNA 2-powered graphics and eventually enable support for FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) from AMD.
This means that Microsoft could make the Series I don't really know for sure at this point (and probably neither does AMD), that's how far ahead Microsoft is going.
What measures will Sony take?
No word on support for Fidelity FX on the PS5 has been announced yet, which raises the question of whether it will be supported or whether Sony will enable a similar feature through its own developer tools.
A few months ago information was revealed concerning the development of a proprietary solution from Sony. The information has been confirmed. Sony is working in partnership with Nvidia in the race for tomorrow's graphics performance.
Being in first place in terms of power at this generation of consoles, the Xbox Series X is ahead in implementing the latest graphics technologies. For now, we are far from imagining the gap separating the two video game giants on this subject.
The implementation of this technical revolution will probably not happen before the next generation. It is very difficult to give a date but it will be time to take real stock with a little perspective in the months or years to come.
The XBOX exclusives benefiting from the FSR will be the first witnesses of this new era.
Sony may have already lost the battle for future console generations.
Both XBOX and PLAYSTATION will offer increased performance in the future. But how and under what conditions can you benefit from it?
The hardware
As always, when technological advancement the question of additional peripherals arises.
A major graphics improvement must be accompanied by screens that offer you a gaming experience that matches the powers delivered by the consoles.
The current market, which offers 4K screens on consoles and PCs , will soon bring out 8K which is not close to being integrated into all homes!
When we look, for example, at the list of favorite screens of PS5 and XBOX players, we say to ourselves that there is still a long way to go. But this may be Sony's chance!
Indeed, if it is not possible to fully experience the experience provided by these new technologies, why should players invest in them? Freeing up time for Sony's high-tech department to finish developing the FidelityFX competitor
XBOX has won the battle but has not yet won the war!
The software
In the world of number one entertainment on a global level, there are curious anomalies regarding access to all the titles available.
Beyond the exclusivities specific to major manufacturers, there are exclusivities linked to your geographic location. Certain games, alpha or beta launches or even certain extensions are inaccessible if you are not in the correct geographical area. A simple and effective solution is high-speed VPN.
For us Europeans, one of the markets where we often have access problems concerns American servers. By equipping yourself with a powerful VPN (virtual private network), you will be able to face all the players present on all the servers.
It's a shame to miss out on games because of a geographic location. The 20th has not yet resolved these kinds of problems.
Today, VPN systems are quite unusual on consoles. They are not directly installed out of the factory. Securing your network by VPN must be done on a third-party device. To allow you to have a latency-free experience, you have several options available to you:
- Changing your DNS coordinates is a tedious process that will not encrypt your data.
- To set up VPN on your router, do some research beforehand because it's not that simple. Tampering with your router can compromise the security of your network.
- Install a VPN on your computer
The 3rd option is the simplest and most effective. We all know the paid solutions that appear at the start of each of our favorite Youtuber's videos. But there is a list of the best free VPNs for MAC , Linux, and Windows on the internet.
You will find them without problem. So no more restrictions that don't make sense. Being able to live the video game experiences that thrill you should not depend on our geolocation.
Let’s also add that streaming series in 8K is a dream come true!
To conclude, what should we take away from all this?
The XBOX Series A major breakthrough like this has been long overdue. Gone are the days when we took a real graphic hit when moving from one generation to the next. There may be a limit that we are starting to reach, the human eye has its limits.
So more pixels or more effects are not the absolute determinant of a memorable experience.
We must not lose sight of the fact that the design of a game in all its forms (game design, story, music, etc.) is the most important element.
