60fps is no longer enough, so I move on to creating frames

There was a time when we all thought that 60 FPS was the pinnacle of gaming frame rates. However, recent technological advances, such as frame creation and increased artificial intelligence, have given us an easy way to double or triple the number. So, I think it’s time to embrace a new standard for gaming performance.

60fps is the new 30fps

You may be surprised to know that the PlayStation 2 has 60 FPS games. However, in the generations that followed, 30 FPS became the standard in order to prioritize graphical fidelity, especially in triple-A games. Achieving 60 FPS or more in games like Far Cry 2 On PlayStation 3 it wasn’t realistic with the hardware.

As a result, developers have generally focused on running games at a fixed rate of 30 frames per second while optimizing graphical details instead. 30fps still provides a reasonably smooth experience, especially if there are no frame rate issues.

On PC, gamers always have more flexibility. You can build a more capable machine or simply sacrifice graphical fidelity to achieve a consistent 60fps. Since most monitors in the 2000s and early 2000s didn’t support refresh rates above 60Hz (or 60 updates per second), there was no point in going beyond 60fps.

Fast forward to today, and many monitors and TVs feature refresh rates in excess of 60Hz, allowing gamers to take advantage of much higher frame rates. Current generation consoles and new PCs have also made huge strides in performance and can push well over 60 frames per second.

Thanks to VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), your monitor can dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match your frame rate. So, even if your FPS is between 90 and 120, jitter won’t affect gameplay or lead to unsightly screen tearing or partial frame deliveries.

When you spend some time playing at 120fps or higher and then go back down to 60fps, you can feel the difference, and going down to 30fps can seem practically unplayable. If you’ve ever tried gaming on a high refresh rate monitor (with an FPS to match), you’ll know what I’m talking about.

While it’s still possible to enjoy games at 30fps, it’s clear that we’ve come a long way. I think it’s time to stop using 30fps altogether and make 60fps the new minimum.

Softness beyond eye candy

In almost every game, I’d rather have a higher frame rate than crank up the graphics settings because, to me, smoother gameplay feels more immersive. An increase of 10-15 fps is more noticeable than volumetric clouds or slightly sharper shadows. Expand that to all settings, and you can easily get a performance boost of over 30fps by making sacrifices where necessary.

Of course, there’s a balance to be struck here, as some games can look much worse if you set everything too low. That’s why I follow game optimization guides to make sure I only lower graphics settings that have a significant impact on performance.

On consoles, you can choose Performance mode, which increases the target FPS from 30 to 60 or from 60 to 120, and the game will likely still look good. This is especially true for fast-paced games (such as racing games) where you barely spend any time looking at the world going around while you play.

Creating a framework can solve the problem

Now you’re probably wondering how we can game at 100+ FPS when the equivalent consoles and PCs can barely get 60 FPS. The answer is simple, it is called frame creation. Simply put, frame generation techniques allow your GPU to double its frames per second (FPS) output by taking two frames and interpolating a third frame that creates a smooth transition between the two.

NVIDIA’s DLSS frame generation uses AI to create these images, while AMD uses improved AI algorithms for AFMF 2. Since I have an AMD GPU, I tested AFMF 2 and found that it can easily double the FPS.

It’s not perfect, because it doesn’t work well in all games. For example, I can’t even tell it’s enabled Fallout 76but it causes some minor visual artifacts in Starfield.

Fallout 76 with AFMF 2 enabled

It’s worth noting that both NVIDIA and AMD recommend a baseline of at least 60 FPS for best results with frame generation, so you still need a good GPU for it to work. If your GPU supports framerateing or upscaling, try enabling it in the in-game graphics settings or GPU driver to see what it can do for you.

On the console side, the PS5 Pro will be the first to feature AI upscaling, but it appears it won’t feature any frame generation technology. This seems like a missed opportunity when Sony’s stated goal is to provide “Quality Mode” graphics at “Performance Mode” frame rates.

However, modern upscaling solutions provide another excellent way to dramatically increase your FPS, especially at higher resolutions. Sony’s hardware upgrade program is a huge leap forward in console technology, and is sure to lead to hardware upgrades becoming a staple of custom living room hardware.

We expect to see this technology feature heavily in next-gen consoles, like the PlayStation 6, whatever Microsoft prepares for the next Xbox, and even the Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch in particular is a good candidate for DLSS-based techniques like frame generation because it’s built on NVIDIA’s hardware .

Frame construction isn’t perfect (yet)

It should be noted that tire creation is still in its infancy and has some minor issues that need to be resolved. Input lag and inconsistent frame rates don’t make it a great solution for competitive gaming. Some titles work great, while others result in unsightly artwork. Frame generation works best when games are properly optimized to take advantage of it.

However, this technology could help make 120fps a new standard without the need for powerful and expensive hardware. Many of us already have 120Hz TVs in our living rooms and are ready for the 120fps revolution. We’re already seeing promising results in some games, and this will only get better with time.