Resident Evil Requiem's stunning visuals are powered by Sony's cutting-edge PSSR upscaler, a significant upgrade from its predecessor. But is it truly revolutionary? Let's dive into the details and explore the controversy. Are we witnessing the future of upscaling on the PS5 Pro?
The new PSSR, based on AMD's FSR4 technology, promises to deliver exceptional visuals. In Resident Evil Requiem's RT mode, it upscales to 4K from a base resolution slightly above 1080p, producing sharp and convincing details. Edge clarity is enhanced, and the overall image quality is impressive, aligning with the original PSSR's promise. However, it's important to note that while the PS5 Pro version shows some noise in RT scenes, it's not a PSSR issue but rather Capcom's denoising solution. This is consistent with the PC version, even when using DLSS 4.5 or FSR4.
Comparing the new PSSR with DLSS and FSR4 reveals interesting variations. While the newer implementations retain more apparent resolution in motion scenarios, the new PSSR excels in delivering sharp and stable visuals, avoiding ghosting effects. The balance of detail and sharpness shifts depending on lighting and content, with DLSS sometimes appearing crisper, followed by the new PSSR, and FSR4 lagging behind. Text readability favors DLSS, but the new PSSR takes the lead. Distance detail in Raccoon City, however, favors FSR4 and DLSS.
The controversy arises when considering the PSSR's performance with sub-1080p input, which isn't a concern for Resident Evil Requiem. Dark, horror-themed content can obscure differences, making it challenging to thoroughly test the technology. Nonetheless, the limited content available suggests that the new PSSR is comparable to PC upscalers. The system-level front-end toggle, an 'Enhance PSSR Image Quality' setting, opens up exciting possibilities for developers to update their games with the new PSSR. While not all titles may receive this treatment, the potential for system-wide improvements is tantalizing.
In conclusion, the new PSSR in Resident Evil Requiem marks a significant advancement in ML upscaling for the PS5 Pro, offering sharp and stable 4K imagery. It's a big improvement over previous PSSR versions and competitive with PC equivalents. As we explore more games, we'll uncover further insights into this controversial yet promising technology. So, what do you think? Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments!