Is the PS6 getting AI frame generation, or will it be available on the PS5 Pro?
Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, told Digital Foundry that ML-based frame generation tech is coming to PlayStation platforms in the future. This technology allows the console to use AI to create new frames between the ones it renders, enhancing perceived image quality while potentially introducing some lag. This is similar to how it works on PCs, where critics refer to them as “fake frames.”
It’s unclear if this feature will come to the PS5 Pro, which recently received improved AI upscaling with an upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technique, or if it will debut on the potentially-delayed-PS6. Sony has teased that the PS6 will have next-gen dedicated ray tracing hardware called Radiance Cores.
Cerny indicated that the PS6 wouldn’t be released before 2027, and the same applies to this ML-based frame generation technology. He mentioned to Digital Foundry, “All I can say is that we have no more releases planned for this year. And that I look forward to discussing this more in the future.”
If the PS6 is delayed, Sony may want to maximize the PS5 Pro’s capabilities in the meantime.
This won’t be the first time frame generation is implemented on consoles. The PS5 already supports AMD FSR3 frame generation in some games, although FSR3 doesn’t utilize machine learning. It interpolates between actual frames instead of AI-predicting in-between frames.
Nvidia and AMD caution that frame generation isn’t a solution for low framerate issues, as it requires a relatively stable framerate to be effective. Personally, I don’t use it on gaming handhelds, where I typically achieve only 30 to 40fps, and on my desktop, where I can easily reach 90fps with high settings, I generally prefer to leave it off. However, there are some specific situations where I find it beneficial.