The standard PS5 has received the AI upscaler QSSR via an update – and of all games, GTA 6 appears not to be using it. At least, that's what the fresh launch trailer suggests, as its footage was captured on a standard PS5. After reviewing it, the tech experts from Digital Foundry believe that QSSR was not in use.
What is QSSR on PS5?
QSSR is a stripped-down version of the AI-based PSSR upscaler, which was previously only available for the PS5 Pro. It is designed to bring more sharpness to games while maintaining the same resolution. The update for it just arrived on the console a few days ago. Currently, only first-party titles like Marvel’s Wolverine use it, but it is expected to become available for third-party games later. Many fans had hoped that GTA 6 would be among the first candidates.
How Does Digital Foundry Know QSSR Is Missing?
According to GamePro, the trailer lacks the typical artifacts around obscured image elements that occur with this type of upscaling. DF founder Richard Leadbetter also sees a plausible reason for this: If the internal render resolution is 1440p, the jump to 4K, based on figures from Marvel’s Wolverine's quality mode, incurs a cost of about 4 milliseconds. With a frame budget of 33 milliseconds (30 fps), that would be significantly more than ten percent of the render time. Time that Rockstar would probably prefer to invest in assets and effects.
What Does This Mean for Players on November 19th?
First things first: Nothing is confirmed. Rockstar has not commented on QSSR, and the trailer doesn't necessarily represent the final technical state. Implementation could still follow before launch. GTA 6 is set to release on November 19th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with the PC version expected to follow in 2027. However, with an internal 1440p resolution, Leadbetter suggests the image on a 4K TV should look “good enough” even without QSSR. Digital Foundry had previously cited image quality in the extended gameplay look as a point of criticism, however.
Our Assessment:
From our perspective, later QSSR support wouldn't be a dealbreaker, nor is it a must-have. Anyone playing GTA 6 on the standard PS5 should rather prepare for performance and resolution to remain a compromise. The subject of Rockstar's game world is a persistent interest for us: In our report on a look inside the Rockstar North studio, you can find more background on the development.
Source: GamePro
What do you think: Is sharpness or a stable framerate more important to you in GTA 6? Let us know in the comments!
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