Xbox follows in PlayStation's footsteps, introducing AMD FSR 4.1, targeting better graphics and performance on Series X/S

AMD, the company that designs the chips inside Xbox and PlayStation consoles, made a big announcement this week: it's bringing the latest version of its advanced, AI-driven image upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, to Xbox Series X, Series S, and handhelds ROG Ally and Ally X.

An older version of FSR is already supported on Xbox, but FSR 4.1 is its most advanced release. You may recall FSR 4.1 arrived on Steam Machine and Steam Deck shortly after the former's launch in the summer, and it has proven to be a useful option for players looking for a sharper image.

FSR works by rendering the game at a lower resolution, which is then upscaled to a higher resolution by using machine learning algorithms. This allows supported hardware to deliver better quality visuals without putting extra strain on hardware, or by giving more consistent performance.

While all Xbox platforms stand to benefit from FSR 4.1's arrival, Series S and the more hardware-constrained Ally and Ally X handhelds could see the biggest gains. In that way, Microsoft is extending the life of the Series consoles by allowing its aging hardware to do more.

The timing of this announcement is particularly notable, too, as just a couple of weeks ago, Sony introduced QSSR - a similar machine learning-based upscaling technology - for PlayStation 5. QSSR is the less capable sibling of PSSR, which is exclusive to PS5 Pro.

FSR 4.1's arrival also comes as new reports suggest Xbox's next generation Project Helix consoles could cost upwards of $1,800, which would significantly hinder its adoption rate, considering its price.

"We've worked very closely with AMD to optimise this technology, giving developers another powerful tool for great performance and visual quality for players," said Xbox chief technology officer (CTO) Scott Van Vliet.

"And this is just the beginning. Our teams are continuing to work together across hardware and software, and there's even more ahead with Project Helix, leveraging FSR Diamond to power what comes next."

AMD did not offer a specific date as to when FSR 4.1 will arrive on Xbox Series consoles, but it's going to be interesting to see how the image quality compares to PS5's QSSR.