AMD's latest graphics technologies are making waves in the gaming industry with two significant developments: the revelation that FSR 4 was co-developed with Sony as part of Project Amethyst, and the release of AFMF 2.1 bringing improved frame generation to a wider range of hardware including handheld gaming PCs.
The Sony-AMD Partnership Behind FSR 4
AMD recently confirmed that its latest upscaling technology, FSR 4, was co-developed with Sony Interactive Entertainment as part of their joint machine learning initiative known as Project Amethyst. This collaboration, which AMD described as just the beginning, focuses specifically on the AI models that power the new upscaling technology. The partnership was initially announced in late 2023, with PlayStation 5 Pro System Architect Mark Cerny revealing that development gained significant momentum by the end of that year.
How FSR 4 Represents a Technical Leap
FSR 4 marks a significant evolution in AMD's upscaling technology lineup. While FSR 1 was a spatial upscaler and FSR 2 moved to temporal upscaling, FSR 4 introduces AI models that substantially improve image quality. This approach mirrors NVIDIA's strategy with DLSS but represents AMD's most competitive offering yet in the upscaling space. Although NVIDIA's DLSS 4 transformer model remains the industry benchmark, FSR 4 has significantly narrowed the performance gap, which is impressive considering NVIDIA's head start in AI-powered graphics technologies.
AMD FSR Technology Evolution
- FSR 1: Spatial upscaler
- FSR 2: Temporal upscaler
- FSR 4: AI model-based upscaler (co-developed with Sony)
Hardware Requirements and Limitations
Similar to NVIDIA's approach with DLSS, AMD has restricted FSR 4 to its newest hardware - specifically the Radeon RX 9000 Series. This limitation reflects the specialized hardware requirements needed to efficiently run the AI models that power the technology. The exclusivity to newer hardware ensures optimal performance but does limit adoption across AMD's broader user base.
AFMF 2.1: Bringing Frame Generation to Older Hardware
While FSR 4 remains exclusive to the newest GPUs, AMD has simultaneously released AFMF 2.1 (AMD Frame Generation) in its new driver update 25.3.1. This technology is compatible with a much wider range of hardware, including RDNA 2, RDNA 3, and RDNA 4 GPUs, as well as Ryzen AI 300 series processors. AFMF 2.1 functions as a driver-based frame generation feature that can be applied to games without official developer implementation, similar to NVIDIA's Smooth Motion.
AFMF 2.1 Compatibility
- RDNA 2 GPUs (Radeon RX 6000 series)
- RDNA 3 GPUs (Radeon RX 7000 series)
- RDNA 4 GPUs (Radeon RX 9070 series)
- Ryzen AI 300 series processors
Improvements in AFMF 2.1 for Handheld Gaming
Early testing suggests AFMF 2.1 offers significant improvements over previous versions, particularly for handheld gaming devices like the Asus ROG Ally. Users had previously complained about ghosting, stutters, and poor image quality when using AFMF 1 and 2 on handhelds. The new version appears to provide cleaner images in motion, reduced ghosting, and fewer frame time stutters in demanding games like Sifu and Resident Evil 4, which had struggled with previous iterations of the technology.
Future Possibilities for AMD's Upscaling Technologies
While FSR 4 currently remains exclusive to the newest Radeon RX 9070 series, there's speculation about whether the technology might eventually come to RDNA 3 hardware, which would be particularly beneficial for handheld gaming PCs. Early impressions suggest FSR 4's performance mode offers significant enhancements that could be transformative for portable gaming experiences, potentially outperforming competing solutions like Intel's XeSS on devices such as the MSI Claw 8 AI+.
Competitive Landscape in Upscaling Technology
The improvements in both FSR 4 and AFMF 2.1 represent AMD's continued efforts to compete with NVIDIA in the upscaling technology space. While NVIDIA's DLSS 4 remains the gold standard, AMD's advancements are narrowing the gap and fostering healthy competition that ultimately benefits all gamers. As these technologies continue to evolve, users can expect further improvements in image quality and performance across a variety of gaming platforms.