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Short answer: If a Sony PC game offers all three upscalers and you have a compatible GeForce RTX card, start with DLSS. ComputerBase’s 2026 blind test preferred DLSS 4.5 in 48.2% of 6,747 votes across six games, and its image held fine detail and motion more consistently than the tested AMD FSR Upscaling AI and XeSS 2 modes. AMD FSR remains the compatibility choice, while XeSS can beat older, non-machine-learning FSR implementations in some games.
There is an important naming problem: no official NVIDIA DLSS 5 announcement is established here. NVIDIA’s documented release is DLSS 4, and the independent 2026 comparison tested DLSS 4.5. Treat “DLSS 5” as an unverified label rather than a confirmed product version.
What “DLSS 5” means for Sony games
Searches for “DLSS 5 image quality” often mix speculation, retailer language and future-looking discussion with shipping software. The official NVIDIA material covered by this comparison documents DLSS 4, including transformer-based models and Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50-series PCs. The 2026 ComputerBase comparison tested DLSS 4.5. Neither source establishes a released DLSS 5 mode that you can select in a Sony PC port.
That distinction matters when you compare screenshots or menu labels. A game showing DLSS may be using an older integration, DLSS 3 features, or a later 4.x model depending on its patch and driver. Do not assume that an RTX 50-series card automatically changes the game’s reconstruction model to an unannounced DLSS 5 version. Record the exact game build, DLSS mode and driver when you make a comparison.
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Which upscaler looks best?
| Upscaler | Image-quality position in the cited evidence | Where it is strongest | Main qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLSS 4/4.5 | Led the 2026 ComputerBase comparison in the tested scenes; DLSS 4.5 received 48.2% of 6,747 blind-test votes across six titles. | Fine foliage, hair, thin geometry and image stability during camera movement. | Requires supported GeForce RTX hardware and a game integration that exposes DLSS. |
| AMD FSR | Quality varies substantially by generation and implementation. TechSpot’s 2025 survey notes that XeSS can outperform older non-ML FSR in some games. | Broad software and hardware reach; the practical fallback when DLSS is unavailable. | AMD’s newest machine-learning path is documented for Radeon RX 7000- and RX 9000-series hardware, not every GPU that can run an older FSR mode. |
| Intel XeSS | XeSS 2 trailed DLSS 4.5 in the cited 2026 test, but can look better than older FSR implementations in particular games. | Intel Arc’s XMX path, with a DP4a path for broader compatible hardware. | Results depend heavily on whether the developer integrated the XMX or DP4a path and which XeSS generation the patch includes. |
This is a practical ranking, not a guarantee for every Sony title. A carefully integrated older version can look cleaner than a poorly integrated newer one. The same preset name also does not guarantee the same internal resolution, sharpening, motion vectors or post-processing between games.
What Sony’s PC ports actually support
Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition
Sony’s official PC feature list for Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition names NVIDIA DLSS 3 upscaling and frame generation, NVIDIA DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS. It also lists unlocked frame rates and DualSense support. The menu you see can change with a patch, so check the current in-game Upscaling or Graphics section rather than relying on a launch-era screenshot.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Sony’s PC announcement for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart lists DLSS 3, FSR 2, XeSS and Insomniac’s Temporal Injection. Therefore the answer to “does Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart support XeSS?” is yes for the documented PC release, although the available mode and quality can depend on the installed patch.
Other Sony ports
There is no single Sony-wide upscaling policy. Each port and patch chooses its supported technologies, and a future update can add, remove or revise a mode. Open the game’s graphics menu and read its patch notes before comparing screenshots. If all three options are not present, compare only the modes the game actually exposes.
How the three reconstruction approaches differ
NVIDIA DLSS
DLSS uses NVIDIA’s trained reconstruction models to rebuild a higher-resolution image from a lower internal render. DLSS 4 introduces transformer-based models in NVIDIA’s description. On supported RTX 50-series systems, NVIDIA also documents Multi Frame Generation, which creates additional displayed frames between rendered frames. Frame generation is a presentation and performance feature; it is not the same thing as the upscaler’s recovery of texture detail, edges and motion.
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DLSS quality is most visible in difficult material: thin branches, hair strands, wires, particles, fences and reflections. In the cited ComputerBase test, DLSS 4.5 was preferred overall, particularly when the camera moved through foliage or past fine geometry.
AMD FSR
FSR is designed for broad compatibility, so it appears on a wider range of graphics hardware than a vendor-specific neural path. The exact result depends on the generation the developer shipped. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, for example, documents FSR 2, while newer AMD material describes an ML-based FSR path for Radeon RX 7000 and RX 9000 series.
That means “FSR” by itself is not a complete specification. Before judging it, identify the generation shown in the menu or patch notes, then compare the same quality preset and sharpening level against DLSS or XeSS. Older FSR implementations can show more shimmer, breakup in foliage or unstable hair than the newer alternatives, but a well-tuned implementation may still look good at its target resolution.
Intel XeSS
Intel’s developer documentation describes XeSS as an AI deep-learning upscaler with two integration paths. The XMX path uses the matrix hardware in Intel Arc GPUs; the DP4a path targets a broader set of compatible GPUs. If a Sony game offers both paths, Arc owners should normally test XMX first, then compare motion and fine detail with the other available modes.
XeSS 2 did not lead the six-title ComputerBase test, but TechSpot’s 2025 support survey notes that XeSS can beat older, non-ML FSR in individual games. That is why a blanket “XeSS is always third” rule is unreliable.
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What to look for at 1440p and 4K
At 1440p, upscaling artifacts are easier to notice because the final image has fewer pixels to hide errors. Look first at moving foliage, hair, thin weapon parts, particle trails and distant wires. A mode that looks sharp in a static screenshot can shimmer or crawl when the camera pans.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAt 4K, reconstruction has more output pixels to work with, so Quality modes usually have more detail to preserve than they do at 1440p. Reflections, volumetric effects and ray-traced surfaces still expose errors. Do not compare one mode at 1440p with another at 4K, or one game’s Quality preset with another game’s Performance preset, and call the difference an algorithm victory.
A repeatable scene test
- Choose a short route or camera position containing foliage, hair, particles, reflections and thin geometry.
- Keep resolution, ray-tracing options, texture quality, motion blur, sharpening and frame-rate cap identical.
- Switch only the upscaler and its quality preset. If the game exposes a separate sharpening slider, record its value.
- Walk, rotate the camera slowly and then sprint through the scene. Check both still detail and temporal behavior.
- Repeat with the same driver, GPU, game patch and display settings. Save screenshots or video with the mode named in the file.
This method tells you more than a single paused frame. Temporal stability—whether detail remains in the same place from frame to frame—is often the deciding factor between DLSS, FSR and XeSS.
Hardware compatibility and feature limits
GeForce RTX
Use DLSS Quality as the first test when the game offers it. If the title also offers frame generation, establish a comfortable base frame rate and acceptable input response before enabling it. NVIDIA’s Multi Frame Generation is documented for GeForce RTX 50-series PCs; its generated frames do not remove the latency or image-quality limits of the underlying rendered frames.
DLSS and frame generation should therefore be evaluated separately. First decide whether the reconstructed image is clean and stable. Then decide whether generated frames improve perceived smoothness for your game and settings.
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Radeon
Start with the game’s native FSR option and verify its generation. A menu label that says only “FSR” may refer to an older implementation. AMD’s newest ML features are documented for Radeon RX 7000- and RX 9000-series hardware, so a card that supports an older FSR mode may not support the newest path.
AMD cites a 3.5× average performance uplift for a specified FSR Redstone example on a Radeon RX 9070 XT. That is an AMD vendor result for named games and settings, not a universal performance promise. Treat it as a feature demonstration, not as a multiplier you should expect in every Sony port.
Intel Arc and other compatible GPUs
On Intel Arc, prefer XeSS’s XMX path when the game exposes it. If the game uses the DP4a path, compare it directly with FSR and DLSS at the same preset because the hardware path can change the result. A non-Arc GPU may be able to run XeSS through DP4a, but support and quality remain game-specific.
Performance, latency and frame generation
Upscaling lowers the internal render resolution so the GPU spends less time producing each base frame. That can help a ray-traced Sony port reach a smoother frame rate, but it also reduces the amount of source detail available to the reconstruction model. The best setting is the one that meets your performance target without distracting shimmer, ghosting or loss of fine geometry.
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Frame generation adds displayed frames; it does not make the game simulate input and world updates at the same rate. If the base frame rate is low, generated frames can make motion look smoother while controls still feel delayed. Measure or feel the base response with frame generation off, then enable it only when that response is already acceptable.
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Keep the display’s refresh rate, synchronization mode and frame cap consistent while comparing. Otherwise, a change in pacing can be mistaken for an upscaler improvement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why game integration can outweigh the algorithm name
Upscalers need motion vectors, depth data, exposure information and appropriate handling of transparency and particles. Developers also choose sharpening, reactive masks and how reconstruction interacts with film grain, motion blur and ray-traced effects. A newer algorithm with weak data or poor tuning can produce more ghosting than an older algorithm with careful integration.
This is especially important in Sony ports because each studio and porting team can expose different controls. Compare the actual build you play, not a result from another game that happens to use the same upscaler brand. If a patch changes the upscaler generation, repeat your scene test.
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Recommended settings by situation
You own a GeForce RTX card
- Select DLSS Quality and use the game’s native output resolution.
- Inspect foliage, hair and thin geometry while moving the camera.
- If the image is stable but performance is short, try the next lower DLSS quality mode and repeat the same scene test.
- Enable frame generation only after the base frame rate and input response feel acceptable.
You own a Radeon card
- Identify the FSR generation shown by the menu or patch notes.
- Start with its Quality mode and check for shimmer, ghosting and loss of distant detail.
- If the game exposes a newer ML path and your RX 7000- or RX 9000-series card supports it, compare that path separately from older FSR modes.
You own Intel Arc
- Choose XeSS through the XMX path when available.
- Repeat the same motion test used for DLSS and FSR.
- Compare XeSS with the game’s FSR mode at identical resolution and sharpening, especially if the FSR implementation is older.
You are choosing between image quality and reach
Choose DLSS when compatible hardware and the game’s integration deliver the cleanest moving image. Choose FSR when hardware coverage or a game’s available options make it the practical route. Choose XeSS when its XMX implementation is available on Arc, or when testing shows it is cleaner than the game’s FSR mode on your hardware.
Common comparison mistakes and fixes
- Calling every NVIDIA mode “DLSS 5”: verify the actual menu label and documentation. The established versions in this comparison are DLSS 4 and the independently tested DLSS 4.5.
- Comparing different internal resolutions: use the same quality preset where possible and record the game’s resolution scale.
- Leaving sharpening unmatched: set sharpening explicitly or disable it for every mode before judging reconstruction.
- Testing only a still screenshot: pan and move through foliage, hair, particles and reflections to expose temporal artifacts.
- Attributing frame-generation smoothness to upscaling: test the base upscaler first, then evaluate generated frames as a separate feature.
- Assuming a patch is universal: Sony support is game- and patch-specific. Check the current menu and patch notes for each title.
- Using a vendor claim as a guarantee: AMD’s 3.5× figure applies to its specified FSR Redstone example on an RX 9070 XT, not to every game or GPU.
What the available evidence can—and cannot—prove
TechSpot’s 2025 support survey counted more than 650 games with DLSS, FSR or XeSS support, showing how common these choices have become. It does not make every implementation equal, and it is not a Sony-only image-quality ranking.
ComputerBase’s 2026 blind test is stronger evidence for the tested scenes: DLSS 4.5 won 48.2% of 6,747 reader votes across six titles. That is a result from that test panel, not a universal estimate of every player’s preference or every Sony port. The evidence supports DLSS 4.5 as the safest first choice when all three options are available, while leaving room for a well-integrated FSR or XeSS mode to win in a particular game, resolution or hardware configuration.
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