Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 25.9.1 added a driver-level way for Radeon RX 9000-series GPUs to use FSR 4 upscaling in most qualifying FSR 3.1 games that run in DirectX 12. It did not give every FSR 3.1 game native FSR 4 support: the game, graphics API and FSR integration all matter. Released in September 2025, 25.9.1 is a historical milestone, not the current driver recommendation as of August 2026.
What Adrenalin 25.9.1 actually changed
AMD described the new capability as enabling FSR 4 in “most” games that support FSR 3.1 and use DirectX 12. The key distinction is how the feature gets into a game:
- Native FSR 4: The developer integrates FSR 4 into the game itself.
- Driver override: AMD’s driver replaces the upscaling implementation at runtime in a compatible FSR 3.1 game. The game does not thereby gain a developer-integrated FSR 4 feature.
- FSR 3.1 alone: A game offering FSR 3.1 is a starting point for compatibility, not a guarantee that the override will work.
AMD’s release notes describe the feature and the DirectX 12 condition in Adrenalin 25.9.1 release notes.
Check whether your GPU and game qualify
GPU: RX 9000-series is the launch target
The launch-era FSR 4 override targeted Radeon RX 9000-series cards, based on RDNA 4, including RX 9070 and RX 9060 families. Although the 25.9.1 driver package supports a much broader range of Radeon products—including RX 7000, RX 6000 and RX 5000 families—that package compatibility does not mean those older GPUs can use the FSR 4 override. Contemporary coverage described the launch restriction in PCGamesN’s report.
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Game: FSR 3.1, DirectX 12 and a compatible integration
Use these as a first-pass check, not a universal guarantee:
- The game has a qualifying FSR 3.1 implementation.
- The game is rendering through DirectX 12, rather than Vulkan.
- The FSR integration is compatible with AMD’s override. Games using non-standard implementations or third-party plug-ins may not work as expected.
- FSR upscaling is enabled in the game; the driver override does not replace that in-game setting.
PCGamesN reported the Vulkan and non-standard integration limitations at launch in its FSR 4 driver update coverage. Game patches can also change an implementation or rendering API, so a past compatibility report is not a permanent guarantee.
Launch-era game examples—and the exclusions
Contemporary coverage counted more than 85 games in the 25.9.1 expansion. That is a launch-era figure, not a current, fixed count of games using the driver override: titles may since have gained native FSR 4 or newer support, and compatibility can change with game and driver updates. AMD’s supported-games page is the first-party place to check current AMD feature listings; do not assume every listing describes the original override path.
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Examples reported among the expanded launch set included:
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- Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Cyberpunk 2077, F1 25 and Final Fantasy XVI
- Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, God of War Ragnarök, Hogwarts Legacy and Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- ARK: Survival Ascended, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Silent Hill 2, Space Marine 2 and WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
- A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Farming Simulator 25, Remnant II, Satisfactory, The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered
The examples and launch count were reported by TweakTown’s coverage of the 25.9.1 expansion. They should not be read as a promise that each title still uses the same path today.
Vulkan and unusual integrations can block the override
The 25.9.1 override did not support Vulkan titles. Launch coverage identified DOOM: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as examples of exclusions in the relevant implementation. That is a limitation of this driver override, not a claim that Vulkan can never support FSR 4 through a different, later implementation.
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A game can also fail the compatibility test if it uses a modified or non-standard FSR implementation, or if its apparent FSR option does not use the qualifying FSR 3.1 path. “FSR 3.1 + DX12” is the right first filter; it is not a guarantee.
How to enable the override
Menu names can differ between driver versions, and 25.9.1’s release notes do not provide a complete walkthrough of the interface. Use the current AMD Software labels on your system rather than assuming every version presents an identical switch.
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- Install a current stable AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition driver. For the historical feature description, consult the 25.9.1 release notes; as of August 2026, 25.9.1 is not the current driver.
- Open AMD Software and go to its gaming graphics settings. Find the FSR 4 or FSR override control, if it is available for your GPU and driver.
- Enable the override, then launch a qualifying DirectX 12 game.
- In the game’s graphics settings, enable FSR 3.1/upscaling and choose the quality mode you want.
- If the effect does not appear to take hold, restart the game and compare the image again.
The in-game menu may continue to say “FSR 3.1” even when the driver is substituting the upscaler. A runtime replacement does not necessarily rewrite the game’s labels.
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What image-quality change to expect
FSR 4 is a machine-learning upscaler intended to improve reconstruction compared with earlier analytical FSR versions. In compatible games, it can produce cleaner fine detail and more stable moving edges, including on foliage, hair, wires and other thin geometry. How noticeable the change is depends on internal resolution, quality preset, motion vectors, game implementation, sharpening, screen resolution and what is happening in the scene.
Do not treat the override as a universal promise of native-rendered quality or parity with another vendor’s upscaler. TweakTown relayed AMD’s image-quality claims, while PCGamesN described favorable results in its coverage; neither means every game, scene or setting will produce the same result. If the image looks worse, native FSR 3.1 remains a useful comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FSR 4 upscaling is not automatically new frame generation
The 25.9.1 feature discussed here is an FSR 4 upscaling override. Turning it on does not mean every game’s FSR 3.1 frame-generation implementation is also replaced with a newer machine-learning frame-generation system. Test upscaling separately from frame generation if you encounter instability.
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AMD later used the broader FSR Redstone branding for a family of technologies. That later umbrella should not be retroactively confused with the specific 25.9.1 override; Windows Central’s Redstone coverage describes the later context.
Troubleshoot artifacts, crashes or a missing control
If the game crashes or the image looks worse
- Turn off the AMD FSR override and relaunch the game.
- Enable the game’s native FSR 3.1 mode and compare it with the override off.
- Remove custom sharpening or other image-enhancement filters while testing.
- Try another upscaling quality preset, then test without frame generation.
- If the problem remains, use the game’s native upscaler and check whether a game patch has added native FSR 4 or newer support.
AMD’s 25.9.1 notes documented an intermittent crash or driver timeout with FSR 4 enabled in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers on RX 9000-series hardware. That launch-era issue is a concrete reason to keep rollback available; check the notes for the driver you are actually using rather than assuming the original issue remains unchanged.
If the control is absent or seems to do nothing
- Confirm that the GPU is RX 9000-series hardware; installing a driver that supports older Radeon cards does not confer FSR 4 support on them.
- Check that the game is using DirectX 12 and a qualifying FSR 3.1 implementation, not Vulkan or a non-standard plug-in path.
- Make sure in-game upscaling is enabled. A driver switch alone cannot activate FSR in a game that is not using it.
- For a laptop, note that AMD recommends the system manufacturer’s driver for laptop-specific validation and features; consult the relevant OEM support channel.
- Try a newer stable AMD driver if you are still on 25.9.1, and recheck the game after updates.
Should you use a third-party tool or upgrade?
If an eligible game works well with the official override, there is little reason to replace its files with an unofficial tool just to try FSR 4. OptiScaler is an open-source community alternative for some games, but it involves per-game setup and can bring crashes after updates, difficult troubleshooting and anti-cheat or multiplayer policy risks. Its compatibility information is community-maintained, not an AMD guarantee; consult the OptiScaler compatibility list and check a game’s rules before using it.
For existing RX 9000 owners, the driver feature is a no-cost option to test where the game and integration qualify. FSR 4 compatibility alone is not a sufficient reason to buy a GPU: the value depends on the games you play and the performance and features you need. Readers weighing hardware can compare AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9060 XT specifications against their own needs, rather than treating this one feature as a purchase verdict.
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