Fortnite is getting a performance boost, which also aims to improve visual quality on mobile devices with Arm Accuracy Super Resolution. Arm ASR was revealed last July as an open-source solution based on AMD’s FSR 2 for mobile devices that has been shown to reduce power consumption as well. Epic Games has now collaborated with Arm to bring Arm ASR to Unreal Engine 5, thus making it even easier for game developers to incorporate the tech. Arm ASR can be integrated via a plugin that requires no architectural changes to the game’s renderer and is compatible with Android and iOS. This is a considerably less difficult approach than using NVIDIA’s DLSS, which requires proprietary hardware but should also keep things optimized for Arm and AMD processors since both largely dominate the mobile gaming ecosystem.
“In Fortnite mobile, this means improved frame rates, sharper visuals, and better battery performance through reducing the GPU workload. All of this was achieved without requiring wholesale changes to rendering pipelines or sacrificing artistic intent. “
-Peter Hodges, Director, Developer Ecosystem Strategy, Arm
Fortnite, which is in the final days of its Star Wars-themed Galactic Battle event, will be among the first games using Unreal Engine 5 to get Arm ASR, but more are sure to follow due to its ease of integration. Epic Games explains why it chose Arm ASR as its upscaling technology for Unreal Engine with the following reasons.
- Headroom for higher-end graphics features across mobile devices.
- Crisper detail in high-motion scenes and distant objects.
- Reduced memory bandwidth usage.
- Smoother texture loading with fewer visible artifacts.
Per Press Release:
“Optimizing Arm ASR for a range of mobile devices means game studios can deliver consistent visual experiences to a wider audience faster, with developers not needing separate code paths or platform-specific workarounds. By allowing developers to focus first on gameplay, design, and player experience, Arm ASR helps reduce time spent on performance tuning and simplifies development cycles.”
More will be shared on how Arm ASR is being integrated into Fortnite at Unreal Fest in Orlando, which started yesterday and ends on Thursday. Arm will explain how the temporal scaling solution is an optimal solution for games on mobile devices. Arm ASR joins a growing list of upscaling technologies that are becoming the norm for modern games, whether on PCs, consoles, or mobile devices. There can be mixed benefits to such technologies, which aim to improve the gaming experience, but those goals are not always met. Hopefully, Arm ASR can reach its targets, as mobile gaming is a huge market where it could be utilized.