Upcoming PlayStation Titles to Leverage AI for Frame Generation

Mark Cerny, the mastermind behind the PlayStation 5 and the upcoming PS5 Pro, recently shared with an outlet that machine learning-based frame generation technology is on the horizon for “PlayStation platforms.” This innovation will allow the console to utilize AI to create new frames between the ones it’s actually rendering, potentially enhancing the smoothness of the visual experience, although it may introduce some lag. This is similar to how it functions on PCs, where critics often refer to these as “fake frames.”

It remains uncertain whether Cerny is referring specifically to the PS5 Pro, which has just received an upgrade in AI upscaling through the enhanced PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technique, or if this feature will be reserved for the possibly delayed PS6. Sony has hinted that the PS6 will include next-gen dedicated ray tracing hardware known as Radiance Cores.

Cerny has previously indicated that the PS6 is unlikely to launch before 2027, which also applies to the ML-based frame generation. He mentioned, “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 faces delays, Sony might look to maximize the capabilities of the existing PS5 Pro in the meantime.

This wouldn’t be the first time frame generation has appeared on a console. The PS5 already supports AMD FSR3 frame generation in certain titles, but FSR3 lacks machine learning capabilities, relying instead on interpolating between actual frames rather than using AI to predict what should fill the gaps.

Both Nvidia and AMD typically caution that frame generation isn’t a fix for low framerates, as a stable framerate is essential for the technique to be effective. Personally, I tend to avoid using it on handheld devices, where I might only achieve 30 to 40fps, and on my desktop, where I can easily hit 90fps on higher settings, I usually prefer to keep it off. However, there are some specific scenarios where I do enjoy the benefits it offers.