Sony is launching a significant update to its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology today, March 17th, at 1AM ET, bringing enhanced visual fidelity to a wide range of PS5 Pro titles. This system software update, rolling out in phases, directly addresses previous concerns regarding shimmering, flickering, and visual artifacts, providing a sharper and more consistent gaming experience for players.
Refining Visual Performance via Project Amethyst
This update marks the first major milestone from the collaborative “Project Amethyst” initiative between Sony and AMD. The technology functions by rendering games at lower resolutions and leveraging AI—trained specifically on graphics data—to analyze and upscale individual frames. This process achieves superior image quality without sacrificing the console’s frame rate. Digital Foundry, which tested the initial rollout on titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Silent Hill 2, reports that the new upscaler successfully delivers the high-tier visual upgrades expected from the PS5 Pro hardware.
Broad Game Support and Future Integration
The upgraded PSSR—which shares technical DNA with AMD’s AI-powered FSR 4 for PC—was first previewed last year and saw its debut with Resident Evil Requiem in February. Sony has confirmed that the improvements in this software patch will also benefit the performance of AMD’s upcoming FSR updates.
Beyond the initial wave of titles, the following games will support the upgraded PSSR upon the update’s arrival:
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Alan Wake 2
- Control
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Nioh 3
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
Patch Rollouts and Manual Control
Sony has confirmed that specific patches for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Cyberpunk 2077 will incorporate these PSSR enhancements in the coming weeks. Additionally, Crimson Desert is set to utilize the technology upon its launch on March 19th. For users playing PS5 Pro titles not explicitly optimized for the update, Sony allows the feature to be toggled on or off, though the company notes that visual results may vary depending on the specific title.
