AMD’s FSR Redstone: The Next Leap for Radeon GPUs to Challenge Nvidia DLSS 4

AMD FSR Redstone: Radeon’s Big Move Against Nvidia DLSS 4

Feature	Specification
Feature	Specification
Model	FSR Redstone (FidelityFX Super Resolution, Redstone)
Supported GPUs	AMD RDNA 4 (launch); broader compatibility TBA
Key Features	Neural radiance caching, ray regeneration, advanced ML frame generation (temporal + spatial awareness)
Release Date	H2 2025
MSRP	Included with supported AMD GPUs

After years of playing catch-up, AMD has finally fired its competitive shot in the GPU upscaling arms race. With the announcement of FSR Redstone, the company is signaling a monumental leap in upscaling, frame generation, and ray tracing. This upgrade, set to debut exclusively on AMD RDNA 4 graphics cards in the second half of 2025, is designed to challenge Nvidia’s DLSS 4 in both performance and visual fidelity. But what exactly is Redstone bringing to the table-and will it be enough to tip the scales?

Redstone: What’s New Under the Hood?

AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology has been steadily improving since its debut, but even the recent FSR 4 update lagged behind Nvidia’s AI-driven upscalers in key areas. FSR Redstone, however, brings a handful of high-impact machine learning features that could finally narrow-and potentially erase—that gap.

• Neural Radiance Caching: Redstone uses an advanced machine learning model to “learn” how light bounces around a game scene in real time. This enables smarter indirect lighting and more realistic reflections, rivaling what we’ve seen with Nvidia’s neural rendering approaches.
• Ray Regeneration: AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s DLSS Ray Reconstruction, this feature reconstructs inaccurate or missing pixels in ray-traced scenes using neural networks, resulting in cleaner, artifact-free visuals—especially for reflections and shadows.
• Next-Gen Frame Generation: AMD revamped its frame generation with a new ML-driven model that incorporates both temporal (across time) and spatial (across the scene) awareness. The promise? Smoother gameplay, lower latency, and fewer visual hiccups.

How Does Redstone Stack Up Against DLSS 4?

Nvidia’s DLSS 4, with its proprietary hardware and advanced AI training, has been the gold standard for upscaling, ray tracing, and frame generation. But AMD isn’t just playing catch-up with Redstone—it’s introducing some smart twists:

• Machine Learning at the Core: No longer just a software tweak, FSR Redstone leverages dedicated ML hardware on RDNA 4 GPUs, potentially evening the playing field with Nvidia’s Tensor Cores.
• Ray Regeneration Parity: AMD’s take on neural ray tracing could erase one of the last visual divides between Radeon and GeForce graphics cards, especially in games with heavy ray-traced effects.
• Wider Ecosystem (Eventually): While Redstone launches on RDNA 4, AMD’s track record suggests eventual backward compatibility—even if that requires a little patience (and a BIOS update or two).

Performance: What Can Gamers Expect?

While real-world benchmarks for FSR Redstone won’t appear until its late-2025 launch, AMD’s Computex keynote teased some ambitious targets: Greater than 2x performance uplift in supported titles compared to native rendering, with minimal image degradation. If those claims hold water, Radeon RDNA 4 GPUs could become the go-to for high-refresh, high-res gaming at a more accessible price than Nvidia’s flagship cards.

Importantly, AMD’s approach with FSR Redstone is still developer-friendly: No per-game training or closed SDKs, making it easier for smaller studios to implement across platforms, including PC and next-gen consoles.

RDNA 4: The Launch Vehicle (With a Hint of Exclusivity)

FSR Redstone is locked to AMD’s RDNA 4 graphics cards at launch. While this means only owners of the next-gen AMD GPUs—like the anticipated Radeon RX 9070 XT—will benefit initially, AMD’s history of broadening support suggests that older hardware might get a taste later, albeit with reduced feature sets. For now, if you want Redstone, you’ll need to be on the bleeding edge.

Curious if your current card is up to snuff? The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the flagship, promising robust hardware for all of Redstone’s features, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 offers mid-tier power at a more approachable price.

FSR Redstone and the Future of AMD Gaming

With over 60 games confirmed to support FSR 4 by June 2025, AMD’s ecosystem is more robust than ever. Redstone’s new features will only accelerate that momentum, offering gamers and developers a viable, open alternative to Nvidia’s walled garden. The result? Fiercer competition, better visuals, and—if AMD’s pricing strategy holds—more performance-per-dollar for the consumer. As for the pudding: we’ll be tasting it as soon as Redstone goes live.

Pros & Cons

• Pros:
  • Truly advanced machine learning features rivaling Nvidia’s DLSS 4
  • More realistic lighting and reflections via neural radiance caching
  • Developer-friendly, open ecosystem
  • Improved frame generation with temporal and spatial awareness
• Cons:
  • Initial support limited to RDNA 4 GPUs only
  • Real-world performance still unproven until launch
  • Legacy GPU users may face a long wait (or be left out)

FAQ

Q: Will FSR Redstone work on current AMD GPUs like the RX 7000 series?
A: At launch, FSR Redstone is exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs. Broader compatibility may come later, but nothing is confirmed.

Q: How does FSR Redstone compare to Nvidia DLSS 4 in feature set?
A: Redstone matches DLSS 4 with neural radiance caching (lighting), ray regeneration (reflections), and advanced ML frame generation, but real-world results are pending benchmarks.

Q: What games will support FSR Redstone at launch?
A: Details on launch titles aren’t final, but with over 60 games supporting FSR 4, expect rapid Redstone adoption in major PC titles.

Sources/Further Information

AMD: FidelityFX Super Resolution
TechPowerUp: AMD Announces FSR Redstone
Tom’s Hardware: AMD FSR Redstone – Everything We Know

What do you think—can AMD’s FSR Redstone finally go toe-to-toe with Nvidia’s DLSS 4? Share your thoughts below!