With the launch of 007 First Light, PlayStation 5 Pro players will experience the game with upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) enabled by default. Upgraded PSSR is the next-generation, machine-learning-based upscaling technology from Sony Interactive Entertainment, designed to reconstruct a sharper, more stable image from a lower internal resolution, and at IO Interactive, the results spoke for themselves almost immediately.
A cleaner, more stable image
Upgraded PSSR brings a clear step up in image quality across the world of 007 First Light, from the dense foliage of outdoor environments to the close-up detail of character work in cinematic moments. The improvements are most visible in the kinds of scenes that have traditionally been the hardest for upscalers to handle.
Cleaner picture, less flicker and graphic noise
Upgraded PSSR substantially reduces shimmering and flickering artifacts, delivering a calmer, more cohesive image, especially in scenes packed with fine geometry and high-frequency detail.
Better temporal stability under motion
Whether the camera is sweeping through an environment or the player is sprinting between cover, upgraded PSSR holds the image together far more convincingly than before. Moving objects retain their definition instead of breaking up.
Sharper reconstruction of hair and fine detail
Hair, fabric, and other fine elements are reconstructed with greater clarity, which matters a great deal in a game where character presentation is central to the experience.
“Upgraded PSSR gave us a meaningful jump in image quality across the board — cleaner, more stable, and noticeably sharper on the kind of fine detail that’s hardest to get right. It’s a clear upgrade for our PS5 Pro players.”
– Henrik Schlichter, Technical Director, IO Interactive
A remarkably smooth integration
One of the most striking things about upgraded PSSR from a development standpoint was how little work it took to get a great-looking result. Our engineers had the new upscaler integrated in record time, and the output was strong enough out of the box that no per-scene tuning was required across the wide variety of locations and lighting conditions in 007 First Light.
“We integrated upgraded PSSR in about a day and were essentially happy with what we saw straight away. No per-scene tuning, no special-case work — it just held up across the whole game. That’s not something we get to say very often about a piece of new tech.”
– Jon Rocatis, Principal Render Engineer, IO Interactive
Available at launch on PS5 Pro
Upgraded PSSR will be the default upscaler on PlayStation 5 Pro for 007 First Light at launch. Players on other platforms will continue to benefit from FSR 3.1.5, which remains our upscaler of choice outside of PS5 Pro.
We’re excited for players to experience 007 First Light at its visual best on PS5 Pro, and we’ll keep looking for opportunities to push image quality further as the platform and its tools continue to evolve.