Microsoft has announced the development of a new API called DirectSR, in collaboration with hardware partners Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, aimed at simplifying super-resolution coding in PC gaming. This new API will provide developers with a more streamlined approach to tap into the three companies’ distinct methods of graphical upscaling in Windows games.
DirectSR is described by Microsoft as the “missing link” that developers have been waiting for when it comes to integrating super-resolution (SR) into their games. According to Joshua Tucker, a program manager at Microsoft, DirectSR will offer a smoother and more efficient experience that scales across different hardware configurations.
Super-resolution technology enhances the visual quality of games without putting excessive strain on the graphics card. It achieves this by running games internally at a lower resolution and then using machine learning algorithms and other techniques to upscale the resolution displayed on the screen. The result is sharper graphics with minimal impact on GPU performance.
The DirectSR API opens up the possibility of “multi-vendor” super-resolution through a common set of inputs and outputs. Tucker explains that a single code path will enable various solutions using the three companies’ different approaches to super-resolution: Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), and Intel’s XeSS.
Each GPU vendor’s super-resolution solution has its own unique characteristics. Nvidia’s DLSS utilizes artificial intelligence and generally provides the best performance but requires an Nvidia graphics card. AMD’s FidelityFX is more versatile, supporting hardware from competitors as well as its own. Intel’s XeSS offers AI upscaling specifically for Intel hardware but also provides limited support for non-Intel GPUs.
Recently, a Twitter user with the handle @PhantomofEarth noticed an AI-powered “Automatic super resolution” setting in a Windows Insider preview build (24H2). While it is not confirmed if this setting is related to DirectSR, it appears to be a similar feature. The setting allows users to utilize AI to enhance supported games with smoother gameplay and enhanced details. The preview version offers a choice between a universal/automatic upscaling approach or a per-game option. Initially speculated to be a rival super-resolution feature from Microsoft, it now seems that “Automatic super resolution” may be the consumer-facing version of the DirectSR API.
Microsoft plans to release DirectSR for developers in a public preview build of the Agility SDK, which is a component of DirectX 12. Further details about the new API will be shared during Microsoft’s DirectX State of the Union event on March 21 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).
In conclusion, Microsoft’s introduction of the DirectSR API in collaboration with Nvidia, AMD, and Intel aims to simplify super-resolution coding in PC gaming. This new API will provide developers with a streamlined approach to tap into the three companies’ distinct methods of graphical upscaling. With DirectSR, gamers can expect sharper graphics without compromising GPU performance, thanks to the integration of machine learning and other techniques. The API’s support for multi-vendor super-resolution ensures compatibility across different hardware configurations, offering developers and gamers more flexibility. As Microsoft prepares to release DirectSR in a public preview build, the gaming community eagerly awaits further details about this exciting development during the upcoming DirectX State of the Union event at GDC.