Sony QSSR Support on PS5 and Future PS6 Upscaling Plans

Sony’s QSSR upscaling could continue to improve the base PS5, while future consoles adopt machine-learning technology and AMD’s next-generation solutions.

Sony’s QSSR upscaling technology could extend the life of the current PlayStation 5 generation by improving image quality on existing hardware. However, questions remain about how much development support the technology will receive compared with PSSR on the PlayStation 5 Pro and what role these solutions could play in the next generation of PlayStation consoles.

QSSR could benefit both the current console generation and the next generation, but concerns remain about whether it will receive the same level of development and attention as PSSR. One possibility is that Sony could limit its development to encourage consumers to move toward more expensive hardware that supports PSSR.

QSSR Could Remain a PlayStation 5-Specific Solution

Another possibility is that the PlayStation 6 will use a different upscaling solution, leaving QSSR as a PlayStation 5 feature. The latter possibility appears more likely. QSSR can be considered a backport of a machine learning model to hardware without dedicated machine learning acceleration.

Based on what is currently understood about Sony's next-generation products, both the upcoming handheld and the full console are expected to include machine learning acceleration. This could make QSSR more of a platform-specific solution for the PlayStation 5 rather than a technology intended for future systems.

However, if the next-generation handheld does not offer enough processing power, Sony could introduce a version of PSSR that requires fewer resources. Its lower rendering resolution could also help offset the frame-time cost associated with upscaling. Sony has little reason to stop investing in QSSR simply because it introduced the technology.

Even in its current form, QSSR does not necessarily match the higher-end PSSR solution. If Sony were concerned that QSSR could discourage consumers from buying more powerful hardware, it would be hard to explain why it introduced the feature in the first place. Its release suggests that Sony sees value in providing an upscaling solution for existing PlayStation 5 owners.

Sony Has Reasons to Continue Supporting QSSR

Although the company has released features in the past that didn't receive continued support, there is no clear reason to assume QSSR will be abandoned because it could reduce interest in future hardware. The cost of gaming hardware may be one reason behind the decision. Sony has a large PlayStation 5 user base, and the transition to the next console generation could be challenging.

Continuing to support existing PlayStation 5 owners makes sense, particularly when hardware costs remain a concern. QSSR also does n'tnecessarily threaten the more capable machine learning solutions available on the PlayStation 5 Pro or txpected fonthe PlayStation 6. However, it improves on the upscaling options previously available on the base PlayStation 5.

QSSR may not receive many further improvements if Sony considers its current implementation sufficient. The PlayStation 5 Pro may offer more room for continued development, while the next generation of consoles and the expected handheld could introduce another change in Sony's approach to upscaling.

More game implementations are needed before we can assess QSSR's impact.

One difference between QSSR and PSSR is that QSSR cannot be introduced through a system-level replacement that automatically improves the existing game library. Instead, developers must return to their games and add QSSR support. This differs from the PlayStation 5 Pro, where PSSR 2 could improve the appearance of much of the existing library through a system-level change.

QSSR will therefore depend on developers implementing the technology in individual games. The process is understood to be relatively straightforward, which could help encourage adoption. Although its impact may not match the changes seen with PSSR on the PlayStation 5 Pro, there is little reason to expect Sony to develop QSSR and then abandon it entirely.

Temporal upscaling technologies, including machine learning-based solutions, have shown that improvements can become less noticeable over time. The progression of DLSS on PC, from DLSS 2 to DLSS 3, DLSS 4, and now DLSS 4.5, raises questions about how much further these upscalers can improve across a wide range of games.