AMD Announces 'Exclusive' Starfield Partnership That Will Benefit Players On Xbox & PC

16 times the detail perhaps? 🤭

This news absolutely ruined my day. I'll give it a week though, and the modders will surely implement DLSS that will still get better results than FSR 2.0.

@themightyant "Here at AMD, we firmly believe if we can't make our GPU's better, we'll pay to make yours worse."

I gave no idea what this means but it sounded like a good news story … however I am easily manipulated by advertising…

FSR 2 on Xbox is good news, they used FSR 1 on Final Fantasy 16 and it wasn't up to the job in either 30fps mode or the erratic hardly ever 60fps mode that makes the screen a 720p mess.

Hate this! It won't make much difference for Xbox but it'll massively affect PC players, and that's where I was going to play (need those 60 frames). PC is meant to be an OPEN platform. Why do companies have to lock features down - especially when the features are better like DLSS - so that people are trapped with worse options.

@AlwaysPlaying Well with a recent story that AMD partnered games aren't allowed to have DLSS or XeSS (and AMD not denying it), it just means that FSR 2.0 (which isn't nearly as good as the other two upscaling technologies) is the only option available for Starfield.

I mean, it is great for the console since it uses AMD - but not the PC side.

@ChromeMud AMD partnered games are blocking DLSS from being an option - and AMD hasn't denied it.

@GamingFan4Lyf so what. FSR is open and available for all GPUs. DLSS is proprietary of nvidia.
No one with two braincells should be rooting for DLSS

Hope this leads to the development of FSR and wider adoption over DLSS

@GamingFan4Lyf thanks for the info - my Xbox S and plasma tv can sleep well tonight … two months to go…

@SplooshDmg Excellent, now I can look forward to AMD’s garbage RT implementations and their eye-cancer FSR 2.0.

@ChromeMud no

@Relygon This guy gets it.

@Carck The point is..it's being blocked all together. That's a big deal for people with Nvidia cards who want to use the superior DLSS technology.

Nvidia doesn't care if you use FSR 2.0, XeSS, or DLSS. But AMD is specifically blocking access to people with Nvidia and Intel cards from using their technology.

It's FSR 2.0 or nothing.

Hopefully, PC is not benefited by having DLSS and XeSS excluded, and all should be fine.
Not sure what the news is here though, potentially limiting the pool of upscaling technologies? How can that benefit the players?

@GamingFan4Lyf Exactly. Tons of games support FSR and DLSS. This is specifically just blocking DLSS from being an option. Nothing about this is good for anyone. DLSS is an unquestionably better technology than FSR. That's why it costs... You know... Money. Often times when I pay more money for something it's because it actually works better than the free one.

@ChromeMud Right. It's an Xbox site. You know... We have this icon on our PC that is suspiciously named... Xbox. And we can even download games from it. It sounds crazy, I know.

@ChromeMud You obviously aren't paying attention. FSR is not DLSS. They are not even close to comparable in terms of actual results. DLSS is powered by actual AI tensor cores in the GPU handling the reconstruction, FSR is just bare bones software upscaling. You can dig your heels in and be wrong here, I really don't care. These are not an interchangeable replacement for one another.

@ChromeMud the issue is that this partnership with AMD will likely block DLSS from working, as that's Nvidia tech. So instead of leaving it gpu-agnostic and open, they're curtailing performance for a massive percentage of gamers who chose the "wrong" GPU platform. I've got a Series X and S, but when I want to play it on my Alienware with an Nvidia GPU, I won't get full benefit.

@ChromeMud It really isn't, though. Most game engines like Unreal already have upscalers built into them. FSR only benefits from being fairly easy to implement into a developer's pipeline where an upscaling solution wasn't already present. I'm not saying it's useless to other gamers with non-RTX cards, but I am never ever going to choose FSR over DLSS. RE4R on PC has an absolutely rubbish FSR 2.0 implementation, that fans seriously modded in DLSS 2.0 to replace the FSR 2.0 and it's a better result than the actual developer implemented FSR 2.0. Also, I'm not sure why I have to care about other PC gamers? Because... I don't, and I shouldn't be required to.

PC stuff aside....it's good news for me n my series X? If it was partnered with Nvidia would my console experience be worse off? Or us this a console nothing burger?

@Krzzystuff It is good for Xbox Series X because it's AMD hardware and I having some direct assistance from AMD as a partner is always helpful.

But, even if the game had an Nvidia partnership, it wouldn't affect the Series X because Nvidia isn't blocking FSR 2.0 (or XeSS from Intel) from being available in games with which it partners.

Nvidia supports FSR on GeForce 1050 cards and up and seeing as how the minimum requirements for Starfield on PC are said to be a Nvidia GeForce 1070 Ti (or AMD Radeon RX 5700) I think anybody using an Nvidia card that supports DLSS will get pretty good results, even if DLSS itself isn't supported.

@ChromeMud I don't think anyone is arguing that FSR 2.0 doesn't have it's advantages over standard upscalers.

People are taking issue that AMD is blocking other technologies on games it partners with on a platform that 100% thrives on customization options.

It's fine if you want to use FSR 2.0 for everything on PC. But there are a ton of people that merely want an easy to implement option of using DLSS (or XeSS) for games. But because it's AMD-partnered, they are out of luck.

People invested in the hardware only to have AMD block it. You don't see this as a problem?

You can sit an argue that Nvidia should make DLSS "open", but the thing is, Nvidia puts the hardware on it's cards. It could probably make some "open" DLSS, but it wouldn't be as good.

@ChromeMud Regardless, DLSS has better performance and better image quality. It's not debatable. You are also ignoring that some people have RTX4000 cards and DLSS 3.0 with frame generation destroys FSR 2.0 and DLSS 2.0. In a game that is potentially CPU bound like Starfield that frame generation matters. FSR 2.0 and DLSS 2.0 help with GPU intense situations.

@ChromeMud I'm annoyed that I've got to compromise because of a monetary decision on Bethesda's part. They could've left it open - as I and others have said repeatedly - so that no-one had to compromise. I don't get what's so hard to understand and why you keep twisting my complaint.

@GamingFan4Lyf and @SplooshDmg get it.

@Kaloudz Nothing, really. Maybe better use of FSR 2.0 on console compared to other implementations on the console, but that's about it.

This is not good news to anyone. AMD pays to lock out nvidia. The rest is marketing spin. Nothing about this actually benefits XBOX.

If you look at recent titles that have this AMD "partnership" it hasn't done much to help them. Jedi Survivor was one of the most recent ones.

@Kaloudz It is in the PC space.

People who probably built these amazing gaming rigs with Nvidia 4000 series cards for Starfield aren't going to be able to "use" their card to the fullest without modders adding support for DLSS 3.0.

AMD-partnered games are blocking PC-users from using DLSS (and XeSS on the Intel side).

@ChromeMud Now I know you are just here to troll.

Restricting choice is never good, whatever platform its on.
Some of the people who seem to be championing this move are the same people who complain about other firms using funding to lock out competitors?
As someone who was planning on playing Starfield on PC to get a better frame rate, this will directly affect me and make the game look not quite as crisp as it may have been.
Hardly a show stopper, but unwelcome news anyway... Still cant wait to play though

@GamingFan4Lyf Right? NividiaRTX boys - so anyone who's purchased a new Nvidia GPU in the last 5 years!

@MattWithoutFear Digital Foundry is already all over this one. I quote John Lieneman

"AMD is tricking you. You think they're the 'friendly company' as a result of open sourcing FSR2...but then they're out here spending money to block superior options."

@MattWithoutFear I actually used to be a huge AMD fan back in the day. When Radeon first came around, it really was a solid contender against the GeForce line. I was right there when AMD64 CPU came around as well.

I remember my roomate in college had a GeForce and I bought the Radeon 32MB (we are talking 2000/2001 here) and I was able to get some serious performance over the GeForce and at 32-bit color.

Also, AMD has pushed its proprietary tessellation technology in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

AMD had amazing performance for price. And for a long time, it AMD/Nvidia were neck-and-neck. You couldn't really go wrong owning either one.

In this real-time RT world, though, if you are a serious PC gamer, you are getting an Nvidia GPU. The RT performance is significantly better and DLSS is unmatched. Sure, you have to pay a premium for it, but gaming PCs are an investment.

@Moonglow

If they can make the FSR perform better than the average DLSS for the 20x and 30x Nvidia GPUs then it's going to be best for everybody.

FSR 2 does not provide that. Even on 30-series cards, DLSS 2.0 provides superior results to FSR 2.0 in most scenarios.

Also, there is literally no upside to this in any way for the consumer. AMD pays money to lock out nVidia and then generates marketing material saying how awesome it is.

Just gimme that sweet Green check mark on SteamDeck and I'm good to go.

@ChromeMud

Maybe DLSS will come in a patch later. That isn't unheard of you know. Plenty of games get DLSS added after a games release.
Don't know what the fuss is about.

These AMD agreements lock out the developers from adding DLSS later. That is the problem. Sometimes, modders can do it unofficially but it isn't supported and isn't always possible.

@Kaloudz How can I put this in layman's terms.

For console, you have nothing to worry about. Partnering with AMD means that the AMD hardware and software in the Xbox will get used to its fullest.

On PC, AMD is blocking technology from Nvidia and Intel that is better than AMD's technology from being used.

It's basically the equivalent of a "console war", but on a platform that can have hardware from all types.

It would be like going to a concert at a public place but the band specifically instructs the venue to only sell beer the band likes and no other brands. Sure the beer might be good, but there could be better beers that people prefer.

FSR already works on Nvidia cards, right? Because it's just an upscaler? It seems like all this does is screw over people who own Nvidia cards who want DLSS.

As an AMD GPU owner, though, I'm not going to pretend to be upset about this news lol.

@Kaloudz You got it.

So AMD's technology can be used on any component. It's open to all.

Nvidia's technology is better but specific to Nvidia hardware because it requires special hardware to be used as intended. Intel's is also specific to Intel hardware.

Nvidia doesn't care if you have the option to use AMD's technology, Intel's technology, or its own technology when it partners with a developer. All technology options are available (as it should be since PC can have any combination of hardware).

AMD seems to absolutely care and doesn't seem to allow any option other than AMD's technology to be used when it partners with a developer.

And what this technology is, is image reconstruction to make lower resolution appear as a higher resolution.

AMD calls it FidelityFX Super Resolution (or FSR).
Nvidia calls it Deep Learning Super Sampling (or DLSS).
Intel calls is Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) where Xe is the name of Intel's new graphics technology.

@MattWithoutFear freakin' right?!!!
They come out saying no 60fps on xbox and the next week they say FSR 2. Sooooo...tone down the xbox version to allow for higher framerate. We don't need all of the filtering on xbox. We need frames. Again, not spending a dime on this or TES6 if they don't bring 60 frames. Tens of millions of lost profit right there. A reddit poll showed 14% want 60fps or no buy. If they make 500million on the game that's 70million they lost. Doesn't seem like culling and dynamic LOD would cost 70 million. They will certainly lose a Ton of sales of they don't get those 60 frames on xbox. What a bunch of dummies. And you know what? How dumb os that to even reveal the AMD optimization project to the public of they are still inhaling after say "30fps lock on consoles"? This is trolling the console players!!!!!!!

@Kaloudz Modders have been attempting work arounds in other games that have had similar issues with AMD partnerships.

It doesn't affect me as I am a console-only gamer.

And "issues" makes it sound like the game will be broken or something because of it. That is not the case.

This is really just about AMD-partnered games on PC blocking the option to use competing technology.

Bottom line: this is a big deal for PC gamers.

I'd be willing to bet that a mod supporting DLSS will be out in no time, but I'd also be willing to bet that mod won't work with the PC Game Pass version of the game, so anyone looking to use such a mod will have to buy the game outright through Steam. And it wouldn't surprise me if that's why Microsoft agreed to this sponsorship, in addition to getting AMD's help optimizing the game on Xbox consoles.

Why is everyone acting like Nvidia isn't just tasting their own medicine?

DLSS is proprietary, nobody can use it. FSR is available for everyone, doesn't matter if you have AMD, Nvidia or Intel GPU.

Come on, let's not act like if Nvidia is on a higher ground of morality standard and AMD is the villain that wants to destroy us all.

Nvidia has been playing this exclusive game far longer than anyone else with every single technology they create.

@SplooshDmg Whelp. So much for GFNow!

THIRTY EFF PEE ESS!! WHEEEEEEEEE!

I plan to play this on console. Just too long of a game for me to enjoy it on my PC. 2 months and counting…

Everyone talking about DLSS, but this also mostly likely block stuff like frame generation and Nvidia Reflex.

"See that X over there? You can Y it." - Todd Howard

@NEStalgia I mean, it's still going to be 60fps on PC, and it's going to be on GeForce Now regardless, because all Xbox games are being licensed for GeForce Now per the agreements MS already has with Nvidia. This definitely is frustrating, though. Imagine if MS were just paying developers to not utilize gyro aiming on other platforms, because Xbox controllers lack a gyro. Can you imagine how irate you would be?

@SplooshDmg I mean Bethesda was basically the only dev supporting gyros, so.....

I feel like no matter what kind of spin is put on it, at the end of the day, AMD is paying large amounts of money to make the gaming experience worse for many players.

That is the worst kind of anti-consumer behavior. There is literally nothing good about it for any gamer on any platform.

Man everyone generally seems so negative in the gaming community. This site used to be small and a great place to get general Xbox news. Idk wish we talked about games more. The Bethesda deal blew this place up and the Activision through it over the edge.

Is there still no word on what frame rate PC users can expect?

@NEStalgia This is true. I will now shake my fist angirly. I just want DLSS and gyros. I don't feel like I'm asking for too much here. I assumed in 2023 these would be basic features, but nooooooo. We can't have nice things.

@InfamousOrange You'll take 20 and you'll like it!

@SplooshDmg Tch just because 2006 happened you just want it all!

@NEStalgia I think we need to resurrect 3dfx and start a new line of Voodoo GPUs, and then everything will be right with the world again.

@SplooshDmg I'm down for that. Might need to build a new PC if that happens after all.

if its not giving starfield 60 fps on series x, then i don't care.

@GamingFan4Lyf god you guys are Tony stark? Can you explain what FSR DLSS XESS do in a PC and why console has disadvantage here?

@ChromeMud two things you may have missed:

1.) There are always lurking fanboys throwing shade any chance they get. This is everywhere end not exclusive to the xbox comment section. We get the mix of ponys and master racers here, the two worst fanboy groups in my opinion.

2.) The narrative spun has been that of a good vs evil yarn. All these companies are big tech corporations, yet because MS has the higher market cap they're the evil ones. Exclusively them. All that oppose are sent from heaven and hand picked by God.

My advice is enjoy what you enjoy and let them be miserable. I actually feel bad for them to be honest. No joy in their lives.

@Belkan The console will not be at a disadvantage at all. In fact, this is great news for the console as having AMD helping will ensure this is probably the most optimized game the console has had to date.

So what people are talking about here is image reconstruction technology. It takes a lower native resolution and makes it look like a higher resolution. AMD calls their version FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). It’s a good technique, better than older techniques, but it also can cause some artifacting.

FSR is also open to any GPU on the market. Nvidia, Intel, AMD can all use it.

Nvidia has their version called Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). It’s like the defacto reconstruction on the PC. Image quality is spectacular compared to FSR. It’s proprietary because it uses AI processors on the chip to handle all the image reconstruction logic.

Intel calls it Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) where Xe is just Intels name for it’s new graphics technology. I don’t know much about, though.

The problem on the PC side is that AMD-partnered games don’t allow the option to use anything other than FSR. Where when Nvidia partners with a developer, all options are available.

@ChromeMud fanboys are petty. I see it time and time again. To be honest, as a playstation owner as well, I don't follow playstation content creators because all they do is talk about xbox. It's the mindset of miserable gamers and misery loves company. If they got to dull mine for theirs to shine theirs wasn't that bright to begin with.

I get your grievance but for some ape brain reason these dudes feel inclined to be insufferable and nasty as a default. Nothing is ever good enough for them and when it is its not because it's flawless or even exceeds the narrow expectations they conjure. Its the watermark logo and branding attached to it. Nobody has even played Spiderman 2 and it's potential GotY wins are already being discussed. Meanwhile Starfield is being picked apart in the same situation. There is a huge bias that exists and it sucks, but I'm not gonna let it ruine my fun. If they want to throw barriers in front of their enjoyment then let them. I'd rather enjoy *****.

@ChromeMud This place has ups and downs. After the awesome 2023 Xbox Showcase and Starfield Direct, there seems to have been a social media push from Sony fanboys bullying PureXbox comment section. It's strange because it seems EuroGamer has more Microsoft fans than they used to. Sometimes its just easier to place people on ignore. That's what I do now. Not wasting my time responding when they aren't trying to have a constructive conversation. I'll let them talk to themselves.