Microsoft is rolling out a new automatic super-resolution (Auto SR) feature on its upcoming Copilot Plus PC that will compete with higher-end technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS. The AI-based Auto SR feature will automatically boost game resolution and increase frame rates, and Microsoft is now detailing how it differs from DLSS, XeSS, and FSR.
Auto SR will be integrated into Windows 11 and available on Copilot Plus devices with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). It is designed to work with existing games, requiring no manual configuration or requiring game developers to change how their games are rendered.
“Auto SR is different from super-resolution technologies such as AMD FidelityFX super-resolution, Intel XeSS and NVIDIA DLSS super-resolution built into the game,” the DirectX team said in a blog post. “These methods require the game to change its rendering, for example, by using dithering and MIP deviation to add finer details. In contrast, Auto SR solves the task of enhancing the game without requiring additional information to improve the existing game .
Auto SR uses a larger on-device AI model combined with the NPU on the Copilot Plus device to apply AI enhancements to game visuals while rendering the game at a lower resolution to increase frame rates. Microsoft offloads the work directly to the NPU, so it doesn’t even need to use the GPU to do the upgrade work. “This shift in strategy not only improves frame rates, but also improves the energy efficiency of each frame rendered, significantly improving the overall gaming experience,” the DirectX team said.
There is a slight latency trade-off, though. “Auto SR introduces an average of a single frame of latency when running our large models because it uses artificial intelligence to significantly enhance the game’s visuals,” Microsoft admitted. We’ll have to test this out thoroughly to see if that single frame is noticeable and which games it affects more than others.
At launch on June 18, Microsoft is automatically enhancing just 11 of its tested games to improve visual quality, frame rate, or a combination of both. Borderlands 3, control (DX11), dark souls 3, god of war, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Shadow Dies Twice Ax, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contract 2 and The Witcher 3all in the Microsoft-verified startup manifest.
This list will grow over time, and it’s easy to turn automatic SR on or off and adjust settings for individual games. Microsoft says you can also “explore this feature on other untested games” and force enable the setting. Microsoft warns: “There may be quirks and we can’t guarantee it will work or improve your experience.”
The first Copilot Plus PCs will launch on June 18, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip, so it won’t be long before we see how Microsoft’s Auto SR performs in the real world. The feature will eventually be available on new AMD- and Intel-based Copilot Plus PCs as well, although it sounds like those machines won’t have Copilot Plus AI capabilities until a post-launch update.
Microsoft is currently working on Auto SR improvements, including support for HDR and multi-monitor configurations. “As we continue to explore Auto SR capabilities, we look forward to exploring bringing Auto SR to more devices and a wider range of x64 emulation games,” the DirectX team said.
