Sony Patents Next-Gen PSSR 2 Tech to Reduce PS5 Pro Processing Load
Sony has recently unveiled a new patent that reveals the future direction of its gaming console image upscaling technology. The patent, filed in July 2025 and officially published on February 4, 2026, details an advanced technology called Multi-Frame Super Resolution (MFSR). This technology is considered a significant iteration of the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) currently implemented in the PS5 Pro console, with the industry commonly referring to it as PSSR 2. The patent demonstrates Sony’s ongoing efforts to enhance visual quality while managing hardware resources more efficiently.
The core of Sony’s patent involves using trained artificial intelligence neural networks to process game-generated graphics data and output high-resolution images. Unlike existing technologies such as NVIDIA’s DLSS or AMD’s FSR, Sony’s new approach specifically addresses the pain point of image quality degradation when hardware processing load becomes too high. Traditional solutions like dynamic resolution can alleviate pressure but increase processing burden and output lower resolution images. The patent proposes an intelligent dynamic precision adjustment mechanism that continuously monitors processor load during game operation.
When the system detects rising processor usage and increased load, the technology automatically adjusts the calculation precision of the “weights and/or activation values” used during neural network operation. By appropriately reducing precision, it effectively decreases memory access frequency and overall computation time. This approach maintains higher frame rates while consistently outputting high-quality graphics, optimizing resource allocation. The technology description aligns closely with industry rumors from late 2024, when developers revealed that the next PSSR update wouldn’t be a minor improvement but rather MFSR 2 based on new algorithms.
Notably, despite Sony’s deep collaboration with AMD in graphics technology, this patent indicates that Sony is developing PSSR as an independent technology. PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny previously pointed out that implementing neural network systems without excessively increasing hardware burden represents the greatest challenge, as neural networks require both intensive computation and rapid access to large amounts of memory. The newly announced MFSR technology represents Sony’s solution to this challenge, aiming to optimize future gaming visual experiences. This development suggests Sony is taking a more proprietary approach to upscaling technology, which could give PlayStation consoles a unique advantage in the competitive gaming hardware market.
