QSSR on PS5: Image Quality, Performance and Trade-offs
What QSSR is and how it works
QSSR is Sony’s machine-learning upscaler, adapted from PSSR for the standard PlayStation 5. Rich and Oliver McKenzie explain that it uses FP16 rather than the PS5 Pro’s dedicated machine-learning acceleration and INT8 support. Sony’s Daniel Craig described it as a drop-in replacement for games that already support PSSR, though developers may need to make some integration adjustments.
The discussion asks whether the upscaler’s visual gains justify its computational cost, and how it compares with existing solutions such as Insomniac’s IGTI and FSR.
“So far this seems like a pretty promising sample at least in terms of the performance outcomes, then obviously in terms of the visual outcomes in a couple of Sony titles.” — Rich
Wolverine: image quality and comparisons
Visual improvements over Insomniac’s upscaler
In Marvel’s Wolverine, the hosts compare QSSR on and off. They describe clearer foliage and edges, less pixel crawling, and improved detail in hair, water, reflections, and fine textures. QSSR also reduces visible breakup and flicker in several examples, though some imagery can look slightly soft or painterly when examined closely.
QSSR compared with PSSR
The PS5 Pro’s PSSR version has access to more processing power and runs from higher internal resolutions, with a higher output resolution. The hosts describe three broad quality tiers: the standard PS5 performance mode, that mode with QSSR, and the Pro version. They note similarities between QSSR and PSSR, while cautioning that resolution and settings complicate direct comparisons.
Performance costs and Ghost of Yotei
Wolverine performance tests
At matched resolutions, QSSR improves image quality but lowers frame rates in the tested Wolverine scenes. The discussion estimates a frame-time cost of about 1.5–1.8 milliseconds in one 1440p-output test and about 4.4 milliseconds in a 4K-output fidelity-mode test. In a dynamic-resolution performance-mode test, resolution can be lowered to help maintain frame rate while QSSR delivers a cleaner image.
Ghost of Yotei results
The hosts report that performance differences between QSSR and the existing upscaler were slight in their Ghost of Yotei test. They suggest QSSR may have a similar computational cost to FSR 3 in that game, but emphasize that this is a limited comparison and needs further verification across more implementations.
Future implementations and closing thoughts
The hosts would like to see QSSR tested in more games, including titles that already support PSSR, and discuss the possibility of retrofitting it into existing games. They also consider whether it could be used in Grand Theft Auto 6, while noting that the game’s apparent upscaling approach could make adoption more involved and that any decision would be Rockstar’s.
They conclude that QSSR is a promising debut on the standard PS5, but that its image-quality gains and performance effects will vary by game and implementation. They look forward to seeing more titles before drawing broader conclusions.