Starfield, an open-world sci-fi role-playing game set in the vast expanse of the cosmos, is Xbox’s crown jewel for this year if not this entire console generation. However, in a surprise twist – and one that doesn’t come from the Microsoft vs. FTC trial – AMD announced it will be the exclusive PC partner for Starfield. This means the game’s code is optimized for AMD hardware, especially Ryzen 7000 series processors and Radeon 7000 series graphics cards.
- AMD is Starfield’s exclusive PC partner, optimizing for AMD hardware.
- Starfield will use AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.
- The partnership may exclude Nvidia’s DLSS and Intel’s XeSS.
- Reactions to the partnership are mixed among gamers.
- Starfield’s performance on non-AMD hardware remains a question.
The implications of this alliance, however, have raised concerns among the PC gaming community, and the stakes could not be higher.
What does this mean for gamers? On the one hand, AMD users can look forward to significant performance enhancements and an optimal gaming experience. The game will be utilizing AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2), a cutting-edge technology that improves game graphics by rendering images at a higher resolution before downscaling them for lower-resolution displays. The beauty of FSR 2 is that it isn’t hardware-restricted, so all gamers, regardless of their graphics card, can benefit from it.
However, this partnership also signals a potential drawback: the lack of support for rival technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS and Intel’s XeSS.
For the uninitiated, Nvidia’s DLSS 3 is currently the benchmark for game supersampling, a technique that gives a massive boost to visual performance.
The absence of support for DLSS and XeSS raises worries among Nvidia and Intel users, who will be unable to leverage the full power of their graphics cards for Starfield. Considering the high-profile nature of the game, this can be a significant concern for many.
The reactions have been mixed. While some see this as a golden opportunity for all gamers to enjoy Starfield irrespective of their hardware, others perceive it as an anti-consumer move. Concerns are mounting about the possible lockout of non-AMD tech, even prompting industry voices to chime in.
Starfield’s launch is just a few months away, and the clock is ticking for Bethesda and AMD to address these concerns. Their challenge will be ensuring a smooth and satisfying gaming experience across the board, regardless of hardware. Bethesda is going to have to clarify whether we can expect support for all three upscaling technologies or if FSR 2 will be the sole option.
On the brighter side, AMD’s collaboration with Bethesda also means that Starfield will be highly optimized for Xbox users, thanks to Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S, built atop AMD’s graphics and processing architectures. Although you could’ve said the same about the PlayStation 5, except, because of Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media, that ship has long sailed.
Furthermore, Todd Howard, the director of Starfield, has hinted that the game will be a paradise for modders, opening up possibilities for tweaking the game beyond its initial capabilities.
The underlying questions about Starfield’s performance remain unanswered. Will the game perform optimally on both AMD and non-AMD hardware? Will it look visually stunning, even without the inclusion of DLSS? Will modders quickly fill the void left by the exclusion of DLSS and XeSS? All these questions are yet to be answered, but one thing is for sure – Starfield’s launch on September 6 will be a pivotal moment for Bethesda, Microsoft, and AMD.
