After the PS5 Pro device narrowed the constant gap, it may pave the way for the PS6 to compete with PC in the next generation. This is through the magical wand that Sony now possesses, which is the PSSR artificial intelligence technology.
Sony has embarked on a new journey in the realm of home gaming consoles, focusing on integrating processing with artificial intelligence technologies along with other usual technical capabilities it puts into its devices. This will constitute a significant and real leap, possibly the biggest leap between two consecutive generations.
Home gaming consoles have traditionally introduced new generation leaps by adding graphics cards with higher capabilities, increasing CPU power, RAM, and other technological touches here and there. However, the trend has now changed, with a significant opportunity for the next generation not just to narrow the gap with personal computers but also to directly compete with them.
Sony introduced the PSSR technology in the PS5 Pro mid-generation device, which enhances image quality through artificial intelligence processing, short for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.
The PSSR technology analyzes the display image of any game pixel by pixel, then processes the image by adding more details, raising its resolution to the highest achievable level. In other words, enhancing graphics quality using artificial intelligence that uses machine learning to provide exceptional clarity by adding an unusually high amount of details.
The PSSR technology uses artificial intelligence to enhance image quality and create additional frames without sacrificing accuracy. It can be said that it is Sony’s answer to Nvidia’s DLSS technology and AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution technology on the PC. Like these technologies, PSSR technology must provide a better balance between image resolution and performance.
Sony in collaboration with AMD has developed the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution technology, which has not yet been used in AMD graphics cards, indicating an early lead by Sony in competing with modern graphics cards. This is an indicator that we will see significant progress with the next generation.
How will Sony leverage this technology in the PS6?
By embedding this technology in the PS5 Pro device, Sony has achieved a significant leap despite the constraints imposed by the device’s technical properties, which are primarily based on the same technologies used in the regular PS5 with some enhancements.
The PS5 Pro device is capable of running many games at 4K resolution at a stable and consistent 60 frames per second performance. Through the experience of some technicians, the device has succeeded in achieving a significant leap not only in improving quality and performance but also in improving graphics quality by enhancing textures and other visual effects, which have become sharper and more accurate.
Imagine implanting this technology in a device with a more powerful and well-tuned technological structure to better harmonize with the PSSR technology. Add to that the improvements that this technology will undergo in the coming years, making it a strong competitor for DLSS and FidelityFX Super Resolution AI enhancements and possibly surpassing them for one reason: it is designed to work on a home device powered by an APU chip that achieves the highest levels of technical compatibility.
This is where the real competition can begin. If Sony introduces the PS6 device 4 years from now, there is enough time to address any issues with PSSR and improve its performance to work better and more broadly with graphics, providing higher resolution as it relies on machine learning that self-improves over time.
Sony planted the seed in the PS5 Pro device to reap the rewards in the PS6 device, which is expected to arrive in 2027/28. At that time, we may witness a real leap, perhaps the largest between any two consecutive generations of home gaming consoles. This could pose a real threat to PC devices, as they may find a new and strong competitor entering the arena and perhaps emerging victorious in the end.