Microsoft unveils Auto Super Resolution for Xbox Insiders

Microsoft is developing Auto Super Resolution, an operating system-wide image upscaling feature designed for gaming. The technology aims to enhance visual fidelity by upscaling lower resolution inputs to higher resolutions across DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 titles. Microsoft states that the feature does not require developer input to function, allowing it to work with existing games without specific optimization.

Auto SR relies on the Neural Processing Unit to handle the upscaling workload. This design intends to free the graphics processing unit to manage other rendering tasks. The feature is currently available as a preview exclusively for Xbox Insiders. Microsoft has indicated that the technology is set to launch for the general public in the future, though no specific date has been provided.

Performance data from ETA Prime highlights significant frame rate improvements on the ROG Xbox Ally X. In Cyberpunk 2077, Auto SR upscales 720p to 1080p using the Steam Deck graphics preset. This configuration achieves 63 FPS compared to 56 FPS without the feature, representing a 12.5% performance gain. The report notes that image quality in this scenario competes with native 1080p resolution.

Other benchmarks show varying results depending on the game and settings. Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra presets sees a 30.6% performance increase when using Auto SR at 720p versus native 1080p. God of War Ragnarok with Balanced graphics reaches 57 FPS with Auto SR, compared to 40 FPS at native 1080p. Black Myth: Wukong with Low graphics averages 66 FPS with Auto SR, a 29.4% increase over the 51 FPS native output.

Despite the gains, Auto SR introduces an FPS penalty in Cyberpunk 2077 when compared to running the game without upscaling. The system theoretically runs on the NPU to isolate workloads, but power draw from the NPU affects CPU and iGPU clocks. This suggests complex power budget interactions rather than pure hardware isolation. A rumored handheld console named Project Helix Xbox is also mentioned in the context of these developments.