Pixels Matter: Microsoft wants to remind everyone that Windows has its own upscaling technology that can work with both older and brand-new games. Automatic Super Resolution is now rolling out to Intel-based Copilot+ machines, promising notable FPS gains within specific resolution targets.
Microsoft has announced that its Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) technology is expanding to Copilot+ PCs built around Intel silicon. Previously limited to Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors, Auto SR now works on Copilot+ devices powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 chips. Users can expect a genuine bump in gaming frame rates – with a few, crucial caveats.
The company explains that Auto SR is designed to help games that struggle to hit a playable frame rate. The technology taps into the NPU built into every Copilot+ PC, relying on pre-trained AI algorithms to reach a higher “effective” resolution while the game engine renders at a lower one under the hood.
Microsoft says Auto SR can theoretically deliver smoother frame rates while preserving the “visual consistency” of a game’s original artistic vision, a clear dig at Nvidia’s polarizing DLSS 5 technology, which gamers tend to either love or dismiss outright.
Unlike DLSS, Intel’s XeSS, or AMD’s FSR, Auto SR is built directly into Windows, giving it broader compatibility across both new and older titles. Microsoft says its upscaling solution can boost frame rates in games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla by as much as 15%, letting gamers enjoy smoother gameplay alongside higher in-game graphics settings.
For now, Auto SR is focused on unlocking that “magic” 60 FPS threshold on Copilot+ PCs. Down the line, Microsoft hopes to expand the algorithm’s reach toward 90 to 120 FPS gaming scenarios. Because the upscaling model is trained on specific target resolutions, it delivers its best results with input resolutions up to 1080p on Intel-based machines.
Auto SR is designed to work with any game built on DirectX 10 or later, and Microsoft has shared a short list of titles it’s targeting with the feature. That list includes Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Assetto Corsa, Avowed, Control, Doom: The Dark Ages, and more.
Microsoft has packaged its latest upscaling technology into an app that can be installed straight from the Microsoft Store.
The Redmond giant is also quick to note that while Auto SR can boost frame rates on Copilot+ PCs, more capable systems are still better off relying on game-native solutions like DLSS, XeSS, and FSR when they’re available.
