Microsoft details DirectSR “Super Resolution”, coming to Microsoft Windows 11

One of the flagship options in Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 is that it exposes the “Super Resolution” toggle, which relies on DirectSR, immediately by way of Settings. During the Game Developers Conference (GDC 2024) occasion, Microsoft shared some fascinating tidbits about how DirectSR permits sport builders to simply upscale gameplay.

Game builders typically render sure parts, resembling reflections or shadows, at decrease resolutions after which upscale them to satisfy the calls for of high-resolution shows. Super-resolution is useful in upscaling video games’ graphics so they appear good on units with high-resolution shows.

Super-resolution shouldn’t be a latest know-how, however implementing it in all video games is troublesome for builders, particularly these with low budgets. That’s as a result of builders want to check separate shader codes for various upscaling applied sciences.

Microsoft’s answer with DirectSR is to make it simpler for builders to assist a number of upscaling applied sciences with out testing their code for numerous upscaling applied sciences, resembling DLSS, FSR, and XeSS. Or it may be some other tech, together with these counting on NPU, is supported.

For instance, beforehand, sport builders had been required to check their video games towards every vendor providing super-resolution, however now Microsoft routes all the information to the upscale. The firm’s API routes variables, parameters or different data to all upscaler (DLSS, FSR, and so on).

The processing of the required knowledge, which was beforehand dealt with by builders, is now dealt with by Microsoft using DirectSR.

“If the GPU manufacturer were to have Microsoft add the ability to process only the core processing part of the super-resolution upscaler with the DirectSR runtime, existing games would be able to use the latest super-resolution upscaler,” Microsoft said at GDC 2024, in line with a Japanese web site.

Microsoft Windows 11 gives AI-powered Super Resolution by way of Settings

Microsoft additionally famous that DirectSR will deal with upcoming AI/NPU-powered super-resolution options.

In preview builds of Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, there’s a point out of a latest characteristic known as ‘Automatic Super Resolution’ (Auto SR), which makes use of the facility of AI to allow you to play video games with enhanced particulars.

This characteristic depends on DirectSR, permitting Microsoft Windows to routinely auto-scale the graphics of supported video games as an alternative of toggling settings in video games.

Auto Super Resolution in Microsoft Windows 11 solely works with video games and isn’t restricted to units with NPU, as DirectSR works with GPUs, too.

However, Microsoft Windows 11 preview builds recommend you may configure Super Resolution for apps, together with Microsoft Windows Camera.

As proven within the above screenshot captured by Microsoft Windows Latest, Microsoft Windows 11’s graphics setting means that you can use Automatic Super Resolution in an app like Camera, however Microsoft warns this may trigger “unexpected results”.

In one other weblog put up, Microsoft confirmed that DirectSR will work on Microsoft Windows 10 and latester.

However, it’s unclear if the corporate will convey the Auto SR toggle to Microsoft Windows 10 Settings, because the characteristic solely seems in Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 preview builds.