AMD’s upgraded FSR 3.1 graphics offer a boost that even Nvidia users can enjoy

AMD on Thursday introduced AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.1 (FSR 3.1), an improved version of its FSR3 frame-boosting gaming technology that AMD said will be available in 40 games, both available now and coming soon.

The new FSR 3.1 technology adds a “Native AA” mode, as well as a very subtle though interesting tweak: AMD has decoupled FSR 3.1’s upscaling capability from frame generation, meaning that it’s possible that AMD’s FSR could be tasked to pair with Nvidia’s DLSS or Intel’s XeSS graphics technology, too.

AMD has already added FSR 3 to titles like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Farming Simulator 22, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, REMNANT II, Starfield, The Last of Us Part I, and The Thaumaturge. It will be added to 21 upcoming games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, Frostpunk 2, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, the company said.

The first game to receive the specific FSR 3.1 upgrade will be Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart from Insomniac Games, Nixxes Software, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, AMD said. It will arrive in a game update “later this year,” AMD said.

AMD launched FSR 3 last year, as an alternative to Nvidia’s DLSS 3. While DLSS touts its ability to use AI to generate additional frames, AMD leans more heavily on traditional frame interpolation. (We have a much deeper dive into FSR 3, here.) But the goal is the same: to “create” additional frames, smoothing out gameplay on cards that wouldn’t normally be able to support the higher frame rates.

AMD is touting the new technology’s ability to improve temporal stability and reduce ghosting — you’ll see less of the “shimmering” effect that can sometimes accompany FSR. It’s still there, though, just less.

AMD says that you’ll see less ghosting effects, too.

Like FSR 3.0, though, the new technology won’t create a elite gaming experience from nothing. AMD still recommends that your PC already be running the game at a minimum of 60Hz, even if you need to bump down the resolution or graphics quality to achieve this. AMD also recommends that you adjust the frame rate within the constraints of your variable-rate-display (if you’re using one) to eliminate screen tearing.

“We also recommend that Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) is enabled in Windows 11 under Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings when using AMD FSR,” AMD added.  HAGS is enabled in Windows 11 2022 Update on AMD Radeon RX 7900/7800/7700 Series Graphics Cards when using AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.12.1 or higher.

Still, with technologies like FSR and DLSS constantly getting improvements, it allows your GPU to last just a little longer before the inevitable upgrade. And that’s a good thing.