AMD FSR 4.1: Graphics boost for Xbox consoles and older Radeon GPUs
Owners of older RDNA 2 graphics cards from AMD and current Xbox consoles will receive a free graphics upgrade. Thanks to the upscaling technology FSR 4.1, the older hardware will deliver better image quality in the future thanks to machine learning.
AI upscaling for older chips
In February there were the first leaks about AMD’s upscaling technology FSR 4.1. The launch on older RX-7000 graphics cards followed in the summer. Now even owners of a GPU from the Radeon RX 6000 series and the Xbox Series X|S can look forward to a graphics boost from the upscaler. AMD has announced FidelityFX Super Resolution 4.1 for all corresponding systems. The AI-supported process calculates games in a low resolution and then upscales the image. This means games can look sharper or achieve higher frame rates with comparable image quality, ensuring a smoother gaming experience. FSR 4.1: AMD delivers better upscaling for RX 6000 & Xbox Series X|S
For PC gamers, the update can already be used via the Adrenalin graphics driver in version 26.10.1. However, there is still no official launch date for the Microsoft consoles. In addition, studios first have to integrate the technology into their games. Handheld PCs like the ROG Xbox Ally also benefit. Asus is planning a corresponding preview driver for portable devices on October 23, 2026.
Custom model without AI cores
Like AMD in its Announcement video explained, the machine learning model was adapted for the older hardware. Since the chips lack dedicated AI accelerator units for FP8 calculations, the company says the technology now relies on the existing INT8 shaders. A smaller version is used for handhelds, which is less than half the size of the original model.
The update should also ensure more consistent image output when generating frames. While the first two generations of the method relied primarily on spatial algorithms or simple temporal procedures, it was only version 4 that established machine learning. This means that typical image errors such as flickering or ghosting occur less frequently. Ray regeneration is also making its way into more titles.
Looking into the future of consoles
There are also plans for the next generation of consoles. Microsoft is working with Project Helix on a new Xbox that will rely on a variant called FSR Diamond. FSR Diamond is developed with next-generation AI upscaling, multi-frame generation and ray regeneration. Until then, version 4.1 should particularly help the Xbox Series S.
Many titles on the console run internally at a very low resolution due to the weaker hardware. The start of the upscaler was originally planned for the beginning of 2027. The release of GTA 6 on November 19th could have persuaded those responsible to bring forward the release. Overall, the six-year-old RDNA-2 architecture will receive the improved upscaling earlier than expected.
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