The AI-Powered Tech Behind PSSR 2 Is Coming To Older AMD GPUs, Including The Steam Machine

AMD Brings FSR 4.1 AI Upscaling to Older GPUs and Steam Machine

After nearly a year of speculation, AMD has officially confirmed that its latest AI-powered upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, is coming to older generations of its graphics cards. The rollout begins with RDNA 3 hardware as early as July, marking a significant shift in AMD’s previous stance on hardware exclusivity for advanced upscaling features.

FSR 4.1 originally launched in March, exclusively for AMD’s newest GPUs, including the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. For a long time, older but still powerful RDNA 3 cards, such as the RX 7900 XTX, were limited to FSR 3. AMD repeatedly stated that the new AI upscaling capabilities required the specialized hardware found only in its latest architecture.

Optimizing for Previous Architectures

That narrative has now changed. AMD’s Jack Huynh has stated that the company has done extensive work to ensure the FSR 4.1 upscaling suite is fully optimized for older hardware. This means users with previously "stuck" hardware can now access enhanced visual fidelity without needing to upgrade their entire system.

Perhaps most notably, Huynh revealed that AMD is also planning to release FSR 4.1 on even older RDNA 2 GPUs in early 2027. This includes the chip powering the Steam Deck, extending the life and relevance of portable gaming devices.

Impact on the Steam Machine and PC Gaming

This expansion is particularly crucial for upcoming RDNA 3 devices, such as Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine. When initially announced, Valve stated that the living-room PC would leverage upscaling to support games at 4K resolution. However, the reliance on FSR 3 at the time was not particularly compelling due to its known limitations and image quality shortcomings.

With FSR 4.1, the technical landscape shifts dramatically. This is the same underlying technology that currently powers Sony’s PSSR 2 on the PlayStation 5 Pro. Integrating this advanced AI upscaling into the Steam Machine means that the console’s ability to deliver high-fidelity 4K gaming becomes a much more viable and attractive proposition.

By extending FSR 4.1 to older desktop GPUs and future handhelds, AMD is addressing a critical pain point for PC gamers: the exponential increase in PC hardware prices. This move allows existing users to enhance their gaming experience through software updates rather than costly hardware replacements, keeping AMD’s ecosystem competitive and accessible.