This upcoming update is exclusive to PS5 Pro. The base PS5 doesn’t support the hardware needed to run this newer upscaling model.
Earlier this year, we reported on the early stages of Project Amethyst and its connection to FSR 4. At the time, Cerny suggested that future games would benefit from the upgraded neural network model. Now, we know the full rollout is planned for next year.
PS5 Pro’s Next Big Graphics Upgrade Is Coming in 2026
According to Cerny, the upcoming upgrade will act as a “drop-in replacement” for the current PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaler. It’s being developed as part of Project Amethyst and is already functional on PC through AMD’s FSR 4, which launched earlier this year.
Only the PS5 Pro will support this new version of PSSR. The standard PS5 lacks the necessary hardware, meaning the update won’t be available on that model. Cerny also noted that the upgrade is being designed to be easy for developers to implement once it rolls out.
The change is expected to bring sharper visuals and better frame rates in supported games. Upscaling algorithms like PSSR and FSR work by rendering games at a lower internal resolution and then scaling the image up while preserving detail. This allows for smoother performance without heavily taxing the hardware.
The new version coming to PS5 Pro is based on work Sony and AMD have done together over the last two years. That partnership is now paying off with a confirmed timeline and a clear target for release.
Project Amethyst Has Moved Faster Than Expected
Project Amethyst began in 2023 as a collaboration between Sony and AMD to develop new upscaling techniques using machine learning. Cerny originally expected it would take several years to see meaningful results. Instead, the team produced a working algorithm in just nine months.
That algorithm is now part of AMD’s FSR 4, already available on PC. Sony is currently in the process of adapting it for PS5 Pro, with the goal of releasing it sometime in 2026. Cerny confirmed that this version is not a scaled-back implementation. PS5 Pro will receive the same high-quality model that AMD has deployed on desktop GPUs.
“This is not a cut-down [version] of the algorithm,” Cerny told Tom’s Guide. “It’s the full-fat version of the co-developed super resolution that we’ll be releasing on PS5 Pro.”
The March interview with Digital Foundry offered a preview of this shift, but the new update gives a much clearer picture of how quickly Project Amethyst has progressed. And, how close PS5 Pro users are to seeing the results.
How Sony Helped Shape AMD’s FSR 4 and RDNA 5
Project Amethyst wasn’t just about Sony adapting AMD’s tools. It was a two-way collaboration, with both companies sharing research and development across teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Cerny explained that Sony helped AMD refine its machine learning models by providing access to demanding, developer-created game scenes. These scenes pushed the algorithms to handle higher detail and more complex rendering situations. AMD’s team used them to train and improve FSR 4.
In return, AMD encouraged Sony to build a dedicated quality assurance team focused entirely on testing new versions of PSSR. According to Cerny, that was something Sony hadn’t considered before. He now sees it as a vital step in improving results over time.
The work also influenced hardware design. Cerny confirmed that parts of AMD’s next-generation graphics architecture, RDNA 5, are based on engineering contributions made through Project Amethyst.
“Big chunks of RDNA 5… are coming out of engineering I am doing on the project,” Cerny said.
Future AMD GPUs will reflect both AMD’s graphics expertise and Sony’s console-focused insights, starting from this shared effort to improve upscaling performance.
What This Means for PS5 Pro Owners and PC Gamers
For PS5 Pro owners, the 2026 update means a direct upgrade to image quality and frame rate through a more advanced PSSR system. Because it uses the same machine learning algorithm behind AMD’s FSR 4, the improvement should be noticeable in supported games.
According to Cerny, this is not a simplified version. The full algorithm will be running on PS5 Pro, offering the same level of detail reconstruction and performance gains that PC users are seeing today with FSR 4.
The results of this collaboration have already been shown on AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 series cards, where FSR 4 has received positive press. Sony is currently adapting the technology for PS5 Pro, and the rollout is expected sometime next year.
Back in March, we noted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows would take advantage of enhanced PSSR on PS5 Pro. With the new version now confirmed, this type of implementation could become more common as developers begin working with the updated tools.
Could the New PSSR Upgrade Improve PS5 Cloud Streaming?
While the upgraded PSSR model is coming to PS5 Pro consoles, it may also open the door to improvements in PlayStation’s cloud gaming experience. Upscaling algorithms like these can reduce the need for higher native resolutions, which is important when streaming games over the internet.
Sony hasn’t confirmed any plans to bring this technology to its streaming service. But given how closely machine learning and cloud optimization are linked, the impact of Project Amethyst could eventually extend beyond console hardware.
More to Come from Project Amethyst
While the upgraded PSSR is the most immediate result of Project Amethyst, Sony and AMD see the partnership as a long-term effort. Cerny made it clear that his focus is on preparing for future console generations, not just short-term improvements.
AMD is also benefiting from the shared research. The company is expected to use what it learned from Project Amethyst to inform its next line of graphics cards. These will likely follow the Radeon RX 9000 series and could include features shaped by Sony’s engineering input.
“This is not for proprietary technology,” Cerny told Tom’s Guide. “This is really trying to move the industry forward.”
The PS5 Pro’s next update is a clear example of that goal. Sony has confirmed it is working with developers to ensure the rollout goes smoothly, and more details are expected as the 2026 launch window approaches.
Are you planning to upgrade to a PS5 Pro, or are you already using one? Let us know what you think about the upcoming PSSR changes and whether you’ve noticed improvements in supported games so far. Do you think this kind of upscaling tech could eventually help with PS5 Cloud streaming performance too?
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Looking forward for the update 😁
Nice! I know that the current PSSR doesn’t make much difference on PS4 games, I hope that this changes with the new algorithm. It would be cool to also see even more improvements on the PSVR2 games.