Valve and AMD plan FSR 4 support for Steam Machine
Valve says AMD’s newer upscaling tools are coming to the Steam Machine, though it has not given a release date.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
Valve is working with AMD to bring FSR 4 to the Steam Machine, a software upgrade that could improve how games look and run on the company’s new console-style PC. The effort matters because early testing cited by The Verge found the device’s current AMD upscaling support trails Sony’s PlayStation 5 in some motion-heavy comparisons.
Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais told The Verge that the company is collaborating with AMD on support for FSR 4, AMD’s newer set of upscaling and performance tools. In a separate email to The Verge, Valve said FSR 4 is “coming soon,” but said it could not provide more detail on timing.
FSR, short for FidelityFX Super Resolution, is AMD’s technology for rendering games at a lower resolution and then reconstructing the image so it appears sharper or closer to a higher resolution. The technique can help hardware produce better-looking images or higher frame rates than it could through native rendering alone, depending on the game and implementation.
Why the upgrade matters
The Verge said its review found the Steam Machine performs roughly in line with a PlayStation 5. The publication also said the device’s current upscaling, based on an older AMD FSR version, did not match the clarity Sony’s consoles produced in motion in some tested games.
That comparison carries extra weight because of the Steam Machine’s price. The Verge reported that the 512GB Steam Machine is launching at $1,049, above the price of Sony’s standard PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro referenced in the report.
According to The Verge, the Steam Machine uses an RDNA3 integrated GPU. The publication said AMD’s earlier signals around bringing FSR 4 to RDNA3 integrated graphics had appeared uncertain, making Valve’s latest comments a notable shift for the device.
What FSR 4 could add
The Verge reported that FSR 4 includes improvements aimed at image quality in motion for compatible games. The publication also said the toolset includes AI-assisted frame generation, which can create additional frames to improve perceived smoothness when supported.
Valve told The Verge that FSR 4 should bring a significant improvement in upscaling image quality. The company did not say which Steam Machine games will support it, whether the feature will arrive through a system update, or whether developers will need to update individual titles.
For now, the announcement leaves Steam Machine buyers with a promise rather than a date. If Valve and AMD deliver broad FSR 4 support, the upgrade could help close one of the device’s more visible gaps against Sony’s consoles in games where upscaling quality is a major part of the presentation.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.