Last updated: October 3, 2026

The quick answer

Since October 1, 2026, owners of a standard PS5 can get AI upscaling for the first time through Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), a lighter version of the PSSR technology that was previously exclusive to the PS5 Pro. It works only in games that add support, starting with Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei, and Sony released a new PS5 system update with security fixes the same day, so updating both your console and your games is the move.

What happened

Sony introduced QSSR on October 1 as a performance-focused tier of its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution family. The original PSSR, which launched with the PS5 Pro, uses machine learning to take a game image rendered at a lower resolution and rebuild it with more detail than traditional scaling methods. It needs the Pro’s extra hardware, which is why regular PS5 owners have been left out until now.

QSSR uses a slimmed-down neural network that Sony hand-tuned for the standard console’s hardware. According to Kotaku and Console Creatures, the goal is sharper fine detail and a more stable image, meaning less shimmering and flicker on thin objects and distant scenery. The technology came out of Project Amethyst, Sony’s collaboration with AMD on machine learning graphics.

Two first-party games support it at launch: Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei. Sony says it is making QSSR available to developers on the platform, so more titles can follow. Insomniac’s Mike Fitzgerald said it “adds more pixel-level clarity and stability” to the studio’s environments.

The system update that arrived the same day

Also on October 1, Sony pushed a new PS5 system software update. Its official notes are brief: security fixes plus performance and stability improvements. PlayStation LifeStyle and Cybersecurity News both report that the update closes holes used by a recently published PS5 jailbreak known as Relapse, which targets older firmware through a browser weakness followed by a kernel-level flaw. Sony has not publicly confirmed that link, but installing security updates promptly is good practice either way.

What changes for you

Your console	What you get
Standard PS5 (disc or digital)	QSSR AI upscaling in supported games, starting with Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei
PS5 Pro	Keeps using the full PSSR upscaler, which is designed for the Pro’s hardware
Any PS5	The October 1 system update with security fixes and stability improvements

Set your expectations sensibly. QSSR does not turn a standard PS5 into a Pro, and early coverage notes that the biggest gains show up in distant environments and fine textures, which you may not notice in the middle of a fight. What it does offer is a cleaner, steadier picture on the same hardware at no extra cost.

How to update your PS5 and get QSSR

1. Update the console: go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings, then choose Update System Software.
2. Update your games: highlight Marvel’s Wolverine or Ghost of Yōtei on the home screen, press the Options button and select Check for Update.
3. Turn on automatic updates: in the same System Software menu, enable automatic downloads and installs so future fixes arrive while the console is in rest mode.
4. Check the game’s graphics menu: Sony has not said whether QSSR is applied automatically or appears as a setting in each game, so look through the display or graphics options after updating.
5. Having trouble downloading? Sony also supports installing system updates from a USB drive using a file from the official PlayStation website.

Who it affects and who it doesn’t

• Affects: standard PS5 owners who play Marvel’s Wolverine or Ghost of Yōtei now, and anyone who plays future games that adopt QSSR.
• Also affects: every PS5 and PS5 Pro owner, because the October 1 system update includes security fixes.
• Doesn’t change much for: PS5 Pro owners, who already have the more powerful PSSR, and players whose games have not added QSSR support.

If you also play on Xbox, see our guide to Xbox Disc-to-Digital, which lets you turn game discs into digital licenses.

FAQ

What is the difference between PSSR and QSSR?

Both use AI to upscale game images. PSSR is the heavier version built for the PS5 Pro’s hardware. QSSR is a streamlined version tuned to run on the standard PS5, trading some of PSSR’s power for compatibility with the regular console.

Does QSSR work in every PS5 game?

No. Developers have to add support to each game. At launch, only Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei use it, and Sony says it is offering the technology to other developers.

Is it worth buying a PS5 Pro now?

QSSR narrows the gap a little in supported games, but the Pro still has stronger hardware and the full PSSR upscaler. If you are happy with your standard PS5, update it and see how QSSR looks before spending more.

Sources

• PlayStation on X: QSSR is coming to PS5
• Kotaku: Base PS5 is getting AI upscaling starting with Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei
• Console Creatures: Quick Spectral Super Resolution comes to PS5
• PlayStation LifeStyle: PS5 system update rolled out to ring in October 2026
• Cybersecurity News: Sony rolls out PS5 security update following the release of Relapse jailbreak