Upcoming Windows 11 Update to Introduce AI-Powered Game Upscaling

Microsoft is slated to enhance Windows 11 with advanced super resolution technology potentially in its next major update. This new feature, which appears to utilize AI to boost game quality, was noted within a Windows 11 24H2 Insider preview.

The Discovery of Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR)

The AI feature prominently dubbed 'Auto SR' was discovered on a social media platform by a user known as PhantomOcean3, generating considerable interest in its capabilities and implications for gaming as well as other applications. To access this option, users navigate through Settings>System>Display>Graphics. While it may be a bit hidden and not the most user-friendly in terms of setup, the potential benefits are large.

Scope and Utility of the Feature

The Auto SR function offers an all-application enable option or can be specified for particular apps, suggesting versatile usage. Even though modern games often come with their built-in super resolution tools, like Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR, Microsoft's solution may bring value to media players, browsers, and older games not supported by these existing technologies.

Hardware Requirements and Limitations

To utilize Microsoft's Auto SR technology, hardware with tensor cores, such as Nvidia's high-end RTX 20 series GPUs, is required. Processors with NPU cores, like the upcoming Intel CPU line-ups, are also compatible. This restriction means that the feature isn't as widely accessible as some may wish, with users needing fairly recent hardware to benefit.

Reception and Future Outlook

While gaming enthusiasts with the latest tech may find Microsoft's Auto SR unnecessary due to existing proprietary solutions, it could still be a significant addition for overall application enhancement. There is also anticipation around whether this feature will survive to the final cut of the Windows 11 24H2 update, which has been clarified to be an update rather than a new operating system version as previously speculated.

Microsoft, AI, Upscaling