AMD FSR 3.1 is in the works, and the Radeon GPU tech will play nice with other upscalers
Mar. 21, 2024Could AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS join forces?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Hold onto your chairs,AMDfans, as FSR 3.1 has been officially announced. The next version of the Radeon upscaling tech will make a whole bunch of improvements that kick visual defects to the curb, as well as make it easier for game developers to implement. However, there’s one specific perk that I’m especially excited for, and it involves enabling AMD’s Frame Generation tech to work with other upscalers.
If you’re not quite sure what the words AMD FSR 3.1 even mean, but are eager to take advantage of thebest graphics cardsand their abilities, allow me to briefly fill you in. Short for FidelityFX Super Resolution, the tech is an upscaling solution that can dynamically change your resolution and fill in frame rate gaps to boostgaming PCperformance. The current version, FSR 3, added that latter Frame Generation feature into the mix to compete with the likes ofNvidiaDLSS, which boasts its own suite of tricks available to the latest GeForce GPUs.
AMD FSR 3.1 improvements
Naturally, the biggest improvement sits at the top of the list, as artifacting and strange visuals are what’s most likely to deter players from using the tech. I’ve personally noticed some shenanigans like this going on when using upscalers, with details like wire mesh looking like a glitch in the Matrix. Those flaws don’t just apply to FSR, and I’ve definitely spotted weirdness in the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 with upscaling cranked up high, but it’s still excellent to see AMD focussing on a fix for its tech.
As for which game will benefit first, AMD says Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will gain support for FSR 3.1 first. The image below shows off how the newest version will combat potential temporal stability and ghosting issues, and it looks like the tech lives up to its promises.
As I’ve already teased, the idea of being able to use Frame Generation independently from upscaling has me pretty hyped. Not only will players decide exactly how much they want to rely on dynamically switching resolution, it’ll theoretically allow the tech to work side by side with other toolkits. AMD hasn’t directly specified whether that means you could, theoretically, pair FSR 3.1 Frame Generation with something like Nvidia DLSS to boost fps across more games, but it makes sense given the above pitch.
Of course, that theory applies to games with direct support for Fluid Motion Frames, meaning you’ll still need to pick up a GPU like theAMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXto benefit from the full upscaling suite. That said, with support for Vulkan and Xbox Game Development kit support on route, and that new FidelityFX API being included with the package, we should see a surge in support across all games and platforms.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Looking for a complete system? Check out thebest Alienware gaming PCfor powerhouse builds with a unique aesthetic. Alternatively, take a peek at thebest gaming laptopandbest gaming handheldmodels for ways to play Steam games on the go.
I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
8BitDo’s latest Switch controller is perfect for a very specific type of player
Asus TUF A14 review: “a wonderful step towards a portable and powerful future”
Marvel Rivals has a secret: Spider-Man is a certified cutie, but fans have only just found out after a dedicated player went into the files to discover what he looks like “under the mask”
