Asus ROG Xbox Ally X owners are in for a significant boost in performance this April, thanks to a new update rolling out from Microsoft. The update introduces Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR), a feature leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance framerates without sacrificing visual fidelity. This development, showcased at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week, promises to elevate the handheld gaming experience on an already highly-regarded device.
Auto SR, initially featured on Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon X or X2 processors, intelligently renders games at a lower resolution before scaling them up, resulting in smoother gameplay. Microsoft demonstrated the impact of this technology with Forza Horizon 5 running on the Ally X, achieving “around 51 fps” with Auto SR enabled compared to 35 fps without it. The company claims this translates to “an almost 30% frame rate boost” while maintaining comparable visual quality.
The technology works by utilizing AI processing to upscale the image, effectively minimizing the visual impact of rendering at a lower resolution. This is particularly beneficial for demanding titles, allowing the Ally X to maintain playable framerates even on higher graphical settings. The update is poised to further solidify the ROG Xbox Ally X’s position as a leading handheld gaming PC, consistently praised for its power and versatility.
However, it’s important to note that Auto SR isn’t without potential drawbacks. As Tom’s Hardware reports, the feature can introduce latency in its current implementation. This means that while framerates may increase, there could be a slight delay between player input and on-screen action. The upcoming update will likely address these concerns, optimizing the feature for a more seamless experience.
Auto SR requires games to support either DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 to function. This ensures compatibility with a wide range of modern titles, but older games may not benefit from the performance improvements. The feature’s arrival comes as Microsoft continues to integrate Xbox experiences into the PC gaming ecosystem, blurring the lines between console and PC gaming.
During the GDC demonstration, Microsoft showcased the performance gains with a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) by Kotaku’s Ethan Gach. The video clearly illustrates the difference in framerates with and without Auto SR enabled in Forza Horizon 5.
Currently, Microsoft has not announced whether the Auto SR update will as well be available for the standard ROG Xbox Ally, the lower-powered version of the handheld. The ROG Xbox Ally X boasts 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, alongside an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, making it a more powerful device than its predecessor. Microsoft’s official product page details the specifications of the Ally X.
The integration of Auto SR is part of a broader strategy by Microsoft to leverage AI in gaming. The company is actively exploring ways to employ AI to enhance graphics, improve performance, and create more immersive gaming experiences. This commitment to innovation is evident in their ongoing work with AMD to develop cutting-edge gaming technologies.
What comes next for the ROG Xbox Ally X remains to be seen, but the Auto SR update is a clear indication of Microsoft’s dedication to improving the handheld gaming experience. As the company continues to refine its AI-powered technologies, we can expect even more significant performance gains and graphical enhancements in the future.
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