If PS5 Pro games look blurry, shimmer, or show other graphics artifacts, first compare the same scene with Enhance PSSR Image Quality turned on and off. Then check the console’s output resolution and HDMI signal path. These checks help distinguish an image-reconstruction issue in a compatible game from a resolution, display, or connection problem; they do not guarantee that every artifact has the same cause.
What PS5 “AI upscaling” means
Sony calls the PS5 Pro’s upscaling feature PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Mark Cerny, Sony’s Lead Architect for PS5 and PS5 Pro, described PSSR as “an AI library that analyzes game images pixel by pixel as it upscales them.” Sony said in that February 27, 2026 post that PSSR had boosted the effective resolution of over 50 PS5 Pro titles. That is a count of supported titles, not a measure of how often artifacts occur or a promise about image quality in a particular game.
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The system-level Enhance PSSR Image Quality setting is available on PS5 Pro consoles in the CFI-7000 model group and is on by default. Sony says it can improve image quality in certain compatible games; it is a comparison setting, not a universal blur-removal switch. The steps below apply to PS5 Pro and compatible games, not the base PS5.
Compare PSSR enhancement in the same game scene
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. This option is available on supported CFI-7000 model-group consoles.
- Note whether the setting is on, then switch it off and return to the same game scene.
- Compare the same camera angle, movement, and graphics mode. Look for changes in fine detail, shimmering, flickering, or graphic noise.
- If switching the setting off makes the image worse, turn it back on. If neither setting changes the symptom, continue with the output and signal checks below.
A repeatable comparison is more useful than switching settings while also changing scenes or game modes. If the issue appears in only one game, that narrows where to investigate, but does not prove that the game’s PSSR implementation is the cause. Make note of the game’s graphics mode and any recent game or system update when checking for game-specific guidance.
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Check the output resolution and display information
In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, review the current video signal and the connected HDMI device information. The console’s output resolution and the display’s capabilities are separate from how a game reconstructs its image. Sony says the Automatic resolution option selects the highest resolution the connected TV supports. For 4K output, the screen must support 4K and the console’s output resolution must be set to 2160p.
If the image looks soft in menus and across several games, check the signal and display settings before concluding that PSSR is responsible. A setting that changes a game’s rendering cannot correct an output configuration that is not sending the resolution you expect.
For flicker, test the video transfer rate
If the symptom is flickering or unstable output, Sony recommends trying Video Transfer Rate -1 or -2 under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Limiting the transfer rate may improve picture stability, but it also limits some high-bandwidth output modes, including 4K/120 Hz. This is a flicker troubleshooting step; it is not an established fix for blur or every kind of game-rendering artifact.
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- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
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Check the HDMI connection without treating a cable as an image-quality upgrade
- Make sure the HDMI cable is firmly connected at both ends, and try another suitable HDMI port on the display.
- Temporarily connect the PS5 Pro directly to the screen, bypassing a receiver, soundbar, or capture device. If the picture changes, the device or connection in the path may be relevant.
- Check whether the display has a firmware update available.
- Sony recommends the included HDMI 2.1 cable for high-performance features and identifies an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz in its 4K/120 Hz troubleshooting guidance. Consider another cable only if connection or signal checks point to the cable; replacing a cable does not improve PSSR’s image reconstruction by itself.
Sony’s general PS5 picture and sound troubleshooting also recommends checking the HDMI connection and display. These checks address signal transport, which is different from blur or artifacts created while a game renders its image.
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Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games is a different PS5 Pro feature from Enhance PSSR Image Quality for supported PS5 games. Sony says the PS4 option requires a screen that supports 2160p/60 Hz or 1440p/60 Hz, and advises turning it off if unexpected gameplay behavior occurs. Do not use that setting as a substitute for testing PSSR in a PS5 Pro game.
Choose the next step based on the symptom
| What you see | First check | What it can tell you | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft detail, shimmering, or unstable detail in one compatible game | Compare Enhance PSSR Image Quality on and off in the same scene. | Whether the system-level option changes the visible result in that title. | It may not resolve the symptom; game-specific behavior can vary. |
| Soft picture across games or menus | Check the video signal, output resolution, and connected display information. | Whether the console is sending the intended resolution for the display. | 4K output requires a compatible screen and 2160p selected as the output resolution. |
| Flicker or signal instability | Try Video Transfer Rate -1 or -2; inspect the HDMI path and display firmware. | Whether a lower transfer rate or connection change improves signal stability. | Lower transfer rates limit some high-bandwidth modes, including 4K/120 Hz; Sony’s tip targets flicker. |
| Problem continues across games after settings and connection checks | Contact PlayStation Repairs. | Whether official diagnostics identify a console or display issue. | Sony’s general support information does not diagnose PSSR-specific defects. |
When to contact PlayStation Repairs
If the picture problem persists across games after checking the output settings and HDMI path, use PlayStation Repairs and hardware support for official troubleshooting. Persistent artifacts do not, by themselves, establish that the console has a hardware fault; Sony’s general picture-support guidance does not identify every cause of PSSR-related symptoms.
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