Microsoft has developed a new API to simplify super resolution Coding in PC games. The company’s DirectSR, developed together with hardware partners Nvidia, AMD and Intelwill provide developers with a more streamlined tunnel for companies to use three different approaches to enhance graphics in Windows games.
The company describes DirectSR as enabling “seamless integration of Super Resolution (SR)” for Windows games. “DirectSR is the missing link developers have been waiting for, providing a smoother, more efficient experience while approaching SR integration,” said Joshua Tucker, Microsoft program manager. he wrote in a company blog post.
Super resolution is a technology that increases the visual quality of games without straining the graphics card too much. It runs games at a lower resolution internally, but uses machine learning (and other tricks) to upscale what you see on screen. The result is sharper graphics with minimal additional demand on the GPU.
Microsoft says the DirectSR API opens the door to “multi-vendor” super-resolution through a “common set of inputs and outputs.” Tucker wrote that a single code path would allow companies to achieve “different solutions” through three (otherwise distinct) responses to super-resolution: Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Intel’s XeSS.
The SR solutions of the three GPU vendors are different. DLSS powered by Nvidia’s AI it seems to perform at its best, however, requires an Nvidia graphics card. AMD’s FidelityFX is more versatile, supporting competitors’ hardware in addition to its own, while Intel’s XeSS offers an AI boost for Intel hardware, while offering limited support for non-Intel GPUs.
The 24H2 version will feature AI “Super Resolution” as mentioned in previous reports. There are some settings for this in the graphics settings – a default switch and per-program options. (26052) pic.twitter.com/fI9t4ksTWH
— PhantomOcean3 ☃️ (@PhantomOfEarth) February 10, 2024
Earlier this month, X (Twitter) user @PhantomofEarth drew attention AI-powered “Auto super resolution” setting in Windows Insider preview build (24H2). It sounds like it’s not confirmed to be the same thing. The setting will allow you to “Use Al to play supported games more smoothly with enhanced details”. The preview version offers a universal / auto-upgrade approach or a per-game option. First of all he speculated “Automatic super-resolution” may now end up as a consumer version of the DirectSR API to become Microsoft’s rival super-resolution feature.
Microsoft says DirectSR (a component of the Agility SDK) will be coming to developers “soon” in a public preview build. DirectX 12). If you’re a PC game developer, the company plans to provide more details about the new API. State of DirectX Union March 21 at GDC.
