The standard PS5 gets QSSR: the Pro's AI upscaling without paying €900

Sony has decided to share one of PS5 Pro's biggest selling points with the rest of its consoles. As reported by Vida Extra, the standard PS5 starts receiving QSSR (Quick Spectral Super Resolution) today, an AI upscaling technology closely related to the Pro model's PSSR. It also arrives alongside the first compatible games, so this isn't a promise for the future: you can try it right now.

The news matters for a very simple reason: PS5 Pro costs €900, a price that shuts out a large part of the community. Giving the base model a feature designed to make games look sharper and more detailed narrows the gap between the two machines. According to the source, it also answers something players and developers had been relentlessly asking for.

What you need to know

• QSSR is the new AI upscaling technology coming to the standard PS5.
• It isn't exactly the same system as PS5 Pro's PSSR, although its goal is practically identical: a sharper, more detailed image.
• The rollout starts today with an initial batch of compatible games.
• PS5 Pro still costs €900, so this is a real alternative for anyone who doesn't want to, or can't, make the jump.
• With this move, Sony is responding to persistent demand from players and studios.

PSSR vs. QSSR: siblings, not twins

PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) was one of the centerpieces of the PS5 Pro pitch. The idea is to render the game at a lower resolution and let an AI model reconstruct the final image with more detail. It's the same approach that has become popular on PC with other upscaling solutions, and on console it was presented as the big leap within the current generation.

QSSR picks up the baton for the regular PS5. The name itself, with that Quick in front, suggests a lighter version, which makes sense given that the base hardware doesn't have the Pro's horsepower. That said, the available information doesn't detail how well it performs, what quality trade-offs it involves or which titles make up the first batch. So it's wise to be cautious before assuming the experience will match that of the higher-end model.

Our take

At the Underworld Lordz newsroom we see this as a smart move and, above all, a fair one for most players. The installed base of standard PS5s is huge, and keeping image improvements locked to a €900 console only widened the gap between those who can pay and those who can't. That said, for competitive players sharpness has never been the top priority. What really matters is latency, frame stability and clarity during fast motion. Upscaling that adds input lag or creates artifacts when you whip the camera around can be a serious problem in a shooter. Until we see independent testing, we wouldn't recommend blindly turning it on in ranked matches.

For content creators, on the other hand, the outlook is more positive. Capturing from a regular PS5 with a cleaner image helps clips hold up better against the compression used by streaming and video platforms, and that shows when you're competing for attention in a crowded feed. Any improvement that doesn't require new hardware is welcome for anyone just starting out.

We also have to be critical. Because the feature depends on game-by-game support, it could lead to fragmentation: some titles will look better and others won't, without users having much control over it. And there's an uncomfortable question for Sony: if the base PS5 is already getting a version of AI upscaling, what arguments does the Pro have left to justify its price? Anyone who paid that €900 has every right to ask.

What do you think?

Now that QSSR is on its way to your standard PS5, it's time to put it to the test in your favorite games and see if it lives up to its promise. Would you turn it on in your competitive matches, or would you rather prioritize raw performance over sharpness? Let us know in the team chat or drop by our Discord to discuss it.