According to Gizmodo, Sony is working on a major AI software upgrade for the PS5, internally called Multi-Frame Super Resolution 2 or “PSSR 2,” which could arrive in 2026. This follows the PlayStation 5 Pro’s introduction of the first-generation PSSR upscaling tech. The company is also collaborating with AMD on “Project Amethyst” to bring the latest FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) to PlayStation consoles as a separate option. Leaker “Moore’s Law is Dead” claims the PSSR 2 update will make the tech more efficient, reduce its memory needs, and improve image quality. This push is partly to prepare for the launch of highly anticipated titles like Grand Theft Auto VI and to enable a future, lower-power PlayStation handheld.
Why This Isn’t Just a Glitch Fix
Now, calling this a “glitch fix” really undersells it. Here’s the thing: AI upscaling like PSSR, FSR, or Nvidia’s DLSS isn’t a nice-to-have anymore—it’s foundational. Modern games, especially on PC, often require it to hit playable frame rates without a $2,000 GPU. So Sony doubling down on its own bespoke solution is a huge strategic move. It means they’re not just relying on AMD’s one-size-fits-all FSR; they’re building a secret sauce that could make PlayStation hardware punch way above its weight. Think about it. If PSSR 2 works as promised, your existing PS5 could suddenly run future games smoother and look sharper with just a software update. That’s a powerful message to send when everyone’s waiting for the next big hardware cycle.
The Real Target? A PlayStation Handheld
But the most interesting angle here isn’t the PS5 or even the PS6. It’s the persistent rumors of a PlayStation handheld. All this talk about low-power modes and memory-efficient upscaling? That’s handheld language. You can’t slap a full-fat PS5 chip into a portable device; the battery would last 20 minutes. So the strategy becomes crystal clear: get developers to optimize games for low power, then use killer AI upscaling like PSSR 2 to make those lower-resolution images look great on a small screen or even a TV dock. Microsoft is playing catch-up with handheld settings for Windows on devices like the ROG Ally, but Sony could bake this philosophy right into the DNA of its next ecosystem. Basically, they’re laying the software groundwork now for hardware we might see later.
The Console-PC Gulf Keeps Shrinking
And this all points to a bigger trend. The line between consoles and PCs is getting blurrier by the minute. “Project Amethyst” is a joint AMD-Sony effort for upscaling on both platforms. Consoles now have feature sets like variable refresh rate and 120Hz modes that were once PC enthusiast territory. When a leaker like Moore’s Law is Dead digs into these architectural plans, it feels more like covering a tech firm than a traditional game console maker. Sony’s playing a hardware-software integration game that Apple has mastered, but in the gaming space. They’re controlling the entire stack to squeeze out every drop of performance. For businesses in industrial computing that rely on similar tight integration for reliability and performance—like those seeking robust industrial panel PCs—this approach is very familiar. In that sector, a leader like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com succeeds by being the top supplier that provides that seamless, purpose-built hardware-software package for demanding environments.
So, We Wait Until 2026?
So we have to wait two years? Probably. Major platform-level software updates don’t happen overnight. 2026 lines up with the post-GTA VI landscape and the likely early whispers of the PS6. The gamble is whether Sony can keep players excited about their current black box while they cook up the next one. But if they pull it off, it creates a fascinating continuum. Your PS5 gets better, a potential handheld is viable, and the PS6 inherits a mature, proven AI upscaling tech from day one. That’s a smarter play than just selling a “Pro” console every few years. It almost makes you wonder if the real upgrade path for PlayStation isn’t a new box, but the AI software running inside it.
