**AMD Introduces FSR 4 During a Secret CES 2025 Presentation: A Deeper Dive into the Future of Upscaling**
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas has turned into a competitive arena for GPU makers, with both AMD and Nvidia seeking to capture attention. While Nvidia has been generating buzz with its innovations in AI-driven upscaling, AMD has been discreetly advancing its own technology. The most recent breakthrough? FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), which unexpectedly surfaced in a “secret” CES demonstration, igniting excitement and speculation among technology aficionados.
### AMD’s CES 2025 Launches: Radeon RX 9070 XT and FSR 4
AMD officially commenced CES 2025 with the launch of the Radeon RX 9070 XT, a high-performance graphics card designed for gamers and content creators. However, the real excitement centers around the company’s forthcoming upscaling technology, FSR 4. Although AMD has not yet disclosed official specifics regarding FSR 4, leaks and early impressions from CES participants are beginning to clarify its capabilities.
One of the most captivating revelations was made by the well-known YouTube channel *Hardware Unboxed*. The team discovered two “hidden” systems at the exhibition, which didn’t explicitly reference FSR 4 but were marked as “AMD Graphics Research AI-based Upscaling.” According to the YouTubers, this serves as a strong hint that these systems were utilizing the fourth version of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution technology.
### What We Know Thus Far: FSR 4 in Operation
The concealed demonstration showcased the platform game *Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart*, an aesthetically demanding title that acts as a proficient benchmark for upscaling technologies. The demo facilitated a side-by-side evaluation of FSR 3.1 and the new FSR 4, both employing two times upscaling to reach a 4K resolution.
While specific frame rates and latency figures were not available due to the absence of performance metrics, visual enhancements were immediately apparent. According to *Hardware Unboxed*, FSR 4 exhibited notable improvements in areas where its predecessors faced challenges:
1. **Rapidly Moving Objects**: One of the most difficult aspects of upscaling is preserving clarity during swift motion. FSR 4 showed a significant enhancement in this regard, minimizing motion blur and maintaining sharper details.
2. **Transparent Elements**: Historically, transparent objects, like glass or particle effects, posed challenges for FSR. The latest version displayed a much higher level of fidelity, with diminished artifacts and distortions.
3. **Less Streaking and Flickering**: Previous iterations of FSR occasionally experienced streaking and flickering effects, especially in intricate scenes. FSR 4 seems to have considerably alleviated these concerns, resulting in a smoother and more consistent visual presentation.
### How Does FSR 4 Stack Up Against Nvidia DLSS?
While AMD has made commendable advancements with FSR 4, *Hardware Unboxed* pointed out that it still does not match the visual quality provided by Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). The third generation of Nvidia’s DLSS utilizes dedicated AI hardware in its GPUs to deliver unmatched upscaling performance. AMD, contrastingly, adopts a more open and hardware-agnostic strategy, which allows FSR to be compatible with a broader array of GPUs but restricts its capacity to match the accuracy of Nvidia’s AI-centric solution.
Nonetheless, the enhancements in FSR 4 mark a positive development for AMD. The reduction in streaking and flickering effects, alongside improved handling of dynamic objects and transparent components, suggests that AMD is narrowing the gap with Nvidia. For gamers who prioritize compatibility and cost-effectiveness, FSR 4 presents an enticing alternative to DLSS.
### What Lies Ahead for AMD and FSR 4?
At this time, AMD has not announced an official launch date or comprehensive specifications for FSR 4. However, the secret demonstration at CES 2025 indicates that the technology is nearing its final stages. It is probable that AMD will unveil FSR 4 in conjunction with its new Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs, including the recently introduced RX 9070 XT.
For gamers and developers, the introduction of FSR 4 signifies another milestone in the ongoing advancement of upscaling technologies. As games continue to push the limits of graphical fidelity, upscaling solutions like FSR and DLSS will be crucial in providing high-quality visuals without sacrificing performance.
### Concluding Thoughts
The covert CES demonstration of FSR 4 has offered an exciting preview into the future of AMD’s upscaling technology. While it may not yet compete with Nvidia’s DLSS regarding quality, the enhancements over FSR 3.1 are unmistakable. With remarkable improvements in managing swiftly moving objects and transparency,