For the upcoming PlayStation generation (PS6), Sony is working intensively on AI-powered frame interpolation to natively increase the frame rate at the system level through frame interpolation. This is the conclusion drawn from recent developer information.
It's no secret that the next PlayStation console will continue to rely heavily on machine learning to optimize visual performance beyond raw hardware power. Recent information from Sony Interactive Entertainment suggests that research into a frame interpolation pipeline – the generation of artificial intermediate frames – is already well underway. This would be the logical evolution of the PSSR technology introduced with the PS5 Pro.
Focus on frame interpolation for the next generation
A senior research scientist at PlayStation spoke about his LinkedIn profile Insights into current projects. Research is being advanced on a "Frame Interpolation Pipeline" specifically for the "Next-Generation PlayStation Platform". While PSSR is primarily responsible for upscaling the resolution on the PS5 Pro, Frame Interpolation aims to double the perceived flow of the gameplay by inserting an AI-generated image between two rendered frames.
The methodological approach is interesting here. The research utilizes tools like Nvidia's CUDA and TensorRT. However, since Sony's upcoming hardware architecture will be based on AMD chips, the use of Nvidia tools suggests that Sony is using the industry standard DLSS 3/4 as a direct benchmark to develop a comparable proprietary solution for its own consoles.
PSSR as the foundation of the PS6 architecture
The PS5 Pro laid the foundation for PSSR with its dedicated AI accelerator. It's safe to assume that these hardware units will be significantly more powerful in the PS6.
- Scalability: Sony aims to overcome hardware limitations through software intelligence.
- Contest: With AMD's FSR 4 and Nvidia's DLSS lead, Sony is under pressure to offer an integrated solution that works independently of third-party vendors.
- Backward Compatibility: System-wide frame interpolation could theoretically also boost older PS5 titles to higher frame rates without costly patches, provided the hardware supports it.
The speculation surrounding frame interpolation clearly indicates the direction things are headed. Native 4K resolutions at 60 or 120 FPS will not be achieved solely through enormous computing power (TFLOPS) in the next generation, but rather through intelligent reconstruction. Games that run internally at only 30 or 60 FPS could be rendered more smoothly by the AI pipeline.
However, frame interpolation inherently introduces input lag. Sony must therefore simultaneously develop a latency reduction technology, similar to Nvidia's "Reflex" or AMD's "Anti-Lag". The quality of the interpolated frames must be high enough to avoid artifacts during fast movements – an area where AI models are constantly improving through training.
Sony's research into frame interpolation is not a luxury, but a necessity. The PS5 Pro has shown that PSSR already comes close to DLSS in terms of image stability. For the PS6, AI integration will no longer be a bonus feature, but the core of the graphics pipeline. Anyone hoping for native 8K resolutions without AI tricks will be disappointed; the future belongs to efficient image manipulation through machine learning.
