Microsoft's AI-driven upscaling technology, Auto SR, has officially launched on the ROG Xbox Ally handheld, bringing AI upscaling capabilities to the device. According to an announcement on the Microsoft DirectX Developer Blog, Auto SR has exited its preview phase and now officially supports both the ROG Xbox Ally X and Ally X20 models, with expansion to select Windows Copilot+ PCs equipped with AMD Ryzen processors.
The most significant change in this official release is support for handheld mode. Previously, during the Xbox Insider preview phase, Auto SR could only be enabled when the device was docked and outputting to an external monitor. With this update, players can activate the feature directly on the handheld's built-in screen, even when running on battery power without any external peripherals. Additionally, native 1080p rendering games are now supported, allowing 1080p images to be upscaled to 1440p when connected to high-resolution displays. Microsoft also cautions that performance in handheld mode at 1080p may not be as optimal as other configurations, though visual improvements can still be felt in some older titles.
On the functional front, a new Performance Mode has been introduced, raising Auto SR's frame rate cap from the previous ~60-75 fps to a maximum of 120 fps. Players can switch between Quality Mode and Performance Mode in real-time via the Xbox Game Bar. Demo data released by Microsoft shows that when running Rocket League at 720p with high settings, Quality Mode averages around 70 fps, while Performance Mode can reach approximately 115 fps. Furthermore, Auto SR can now run simultaneously with Windows Auto HDR, eliminating the need to choose one over the other.
It is important to note that Microsoft is using a phased rollout approach. Support for handheld mode, 1080p resolution, and AMD Ryzen Copilot+ PCs has already begun, while Performance Mode and Auto HDR compatibility will be gradually rolled out through future Windows updates, meaning not all devices will have immediate access. Users need to update the Xbox Game Bar, install the latest Windows 11 updates, and download the Auto Super Resolution Package from the Microsoft Store. They can then select the desired mode under Game Bar > Widgets > Display > Graphics.