The promised "open-source" upscaling technology remains closed-source, as we see Intel rolling out the XeSS 3 SDK.
Intel Rolls Out XeSS 3 SDK on GitHub for Game Developers, Still Distributed as Windows Binaries
Intel has released the XeSS 3 SDK (software development kit) on GitHub recently, giving developers broader access to its latest AI upscaling and frame-generation technology. While this improves accessibility to the latest upscaling technology, it remains closed-source since the SDK is currently distributed as proprietary Windows binaries.
XeSS 3 and Multi-Frame Generation, which debuted alongside Intel Panther Lake series, have already expanded to more hardware recently, including all the Arc Alchemist and Battlemage products. While it's an excellent move, the XeSS 3 SDK's accessibility doesn't go beyond the Windows OS, even though Intel initially promised to make it open-source. That said, the new XeSS 3 SDK is based on binary-only Windows libraries, and once again, it has left developers and open-source advocates disappointed.
In contrast, AMD's FSR or FidelityFX Super Resolution has taken a more open approach, which lets developers examine and modify the source code. Intel is still restricting them by keeping XeSS proprietary. By restricting the release to just Windows, this could limit broader adoption. As of now, a lot of gamers utilize frame generation to push the FPS when their hardware is pushed to the limit. For the majority of gamers, buying expensive hardware to boost frame rates is not an option, and the Intel MFG appears to be a decent solution for those possessing Intel hardware.
That said, Linux users won't be able to benefit from XeSS 3.0 and MFG, which is disappointing. Hopefully, Intel will decide to make XeSS open-source one day, which will only accelerate its adoption, and we can see more games supporting the newer upscaling technologies.
News Source: Phoronix
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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