Intel continues to make significant strides in the competitive AI upscaling technology market, with its XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) technology now reaching a major milestone. The company's ongoing efforts to establish itself as a viable alternative to NVIDIA's DLSS and AMD's FSR are showing promising results, particularly with the latest advancements in XeSS 2.
XeSS Reaches 200 Game Milestone
Intel has officially announced that its original XeSS upscaling technology is now supported in more than 200 games, marking a significant achievement for the technology that was first introduced three years ago. This widespread adoption demonstrates growing developer interest in Intel's upscaling solution, even as the company continues to work on catching up with competitors NVIDIA and AMD in the GPU market.
XeSS Support Overview:
- Original XeSS: Now supported in over 200 games
- XeSS 2: Officially supported in 19 games (according to Intel)
- XeLL (Xe Low Latency): Reduces input lag by average of 45% in tested games
XeSS 2 Support Expanding Rapidly
The newer XeSS 2 technology, which debuted in March 2024, has now officially expanded its support to 19 games, according to Intel's announcement. This represents substantial growth for the technology that was initially available in only a handful of titles. The company has indicated that support will continue to roll out to more games in the coming weeks, with a particular focus on integrating the technology into the latest AAA titles.
Assassin's Creed: Shadows Among Latest Additions
One of the most notable recent additions to the XeSS 2 lineup is Assassin's Creed: Shadows, scheduled for release on May 19. Intel's demonstrations suggest impressive performance gains, with the game reportedly achieving more than double the frame rates when using XeSS 2 compared to native resolution without upscaling. Testing with the Arc B580 GPU showed performance jumping from 30-40 FPS at native resolution to over 80 FPS with XeSS 2 enabled, while maintaining superior visual quality compared to the original XeSS technology.
Performance Improvements Across Multiple Titles
Intel's data showcases substantial performance improvements across various games. Diablo IV reportedly experienced up to a 4x increase in frame rates when using XeSS 2, jumping from 46 FPS at 1440p native resolution to an impressive 186 FPS. Other titles including Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, Hogwarts Legacy, and F1 24 all saw performance more than double with the technology enabled.
XeSS 2 Performance Improvements:
- Diablo IV: 46 FPS → 186 FPS (4x increase at 1440p)
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows: ~35 FPS → 80+ FPS (2x+ increase)
- Marvel Rivals (Core Ultra 9 285H): 23 FPS → 66 FPS (187% increase at 1080p)
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (Core Ultra 9 285H): 32 FPS → 96 FPS (200% increase at 1080p)
Benefits for Mobile Computing
The technology is proving particularly valuable for Intel's mobile processors featuring integrated graphics. According to Intel, the Core Ultra 9 285H processor with the Intel Arc 140T integrated GPU can achieve significant performance improvements in modern titles at 1080p resolution. For example, Marvel Rivals reportedly jumped from 23 FPS to 66 FPS (a 187% improvement), while Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii increased from 32 FPS to 96 FPS with XeSS 2 enabled.
Xe Low Latency Technology
Beyond pure frame rate improvements, Intel is also highlighting its Xe Low Latency (XeLL) technology, which works alongside XeSS 2 to reduce input lag and improve responsiveness. According to Intel's testing across titles like Marvel Rivals, F1 24, and Assassin's Creed: Shadows, XeLL reduced latency by an average of 45%, making it particularly beneficial for competitive multiplayer games where responsiveness is crucial.
Competing in the Upscaling Market
While Intel still trails behind NVIDIA and AMD in terms of overall GPU market share and technology adoption, the company's continued investment in XeSS shows its commitment to providing competitive alternatives in the upscaling space. The technology combines upscaling, frame generation, and latency reduction to deliver a comprehensive solution for improving gaming performance, particularly valuable for entry-level and budget GPU segments where Intel has been focusing much of its efforts.
XeSS 2 Compatibility:
- Intel Arc A-series discrete GPUs
- Intel Arc B-series discrete GPUs
- Intel Core Ultra processors with integrated Arc GPUs
Compatibility and Future Outlook
Currently, XeSS 2 is fully compatible with Intel's Arc A-series and B-series discrete GPUs, as well as the integrated graphics found in newer Intel Core Ultra processors. As Intel continues to expand support for both XeSS and XeSS 2 across more titles, the company appears determined to establish itself as a serious contender in the GPU space, particularly through software innovations that can enhance the gaming experience on its hardware platforms.