It has been revealed that Windows 11 is equipped with an “automatic super resolution” feature called Auto SR that utilizes AI. Announcing DirectSR From Microsoft’s DirectX team, many speculated that the company planned to announce a version of DLSS, FSR, or XeSS at GDC in the coming weeks.
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It turns out that’s actually not the case. DirectSR is very exciting. That’s because it’s a new API designed in partnership with GPU manufacturers like AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA to “enable seamless integration of super resolution (SR) into next-generation games.” The intent is to integrate upscaling or super resolution (SR) technology within DirectX, making it easier for developers to add this support to their games.
“DirectSR is the missing link developers have been waiting for as they approach SR integration, providing a smoother, more efficient experience that scales across hardware,” wrote Microsoft’s Joshua Tucker.
“This API enables multivendor SR through a common set of inputs and outputs, allowing a single code path to activate different solutions such as NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, and Intel XeSS.” Joshua adds. “DirectSR will soon be available as a public preview in the Agility SDK, allowing developers to test it and provide feedback.”
Essentially, implementing super-resolution using DirectSR allows developers to add competing technologies all at once without having to integrate them all separately. As for Microsoft’s AutoSR, it could be on your list if you want a game-by-game implementation.
However, the version we saw in Windows Settings is similar to AMD’s driver-based super resolution or NVIDIA’s image scaling in that it operates at the “driver level.”
