The competitive landscape of GPU upscaling technology may be on the verge of a significant shift. New evidence uncovered within Intel’s latest Arc graphics drivers strongly suggests that the company is actively developing its own Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) technology for its XeSS upscaling suite. This discovery points to Intel’s ambitious plans to directly challenge NVIDIA’s current dominance in this specific innovation area and potentially beat AMD to market with a comparable feature, signaling an intensified battle for upscaling supremacy.
The Current State of Play: NVIDIA Leads MFG Innovation
As of 2025, the feature of generating multiple frames instead of just one—known as Multi-Frame Generation—remains exclusive to NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 technology on its RTX 50 series GPUs. Both Intel, with its AI-powered XeSS 2, and AMD, with its newly launched FSR 4, have successfully implemented standard single frame generation. However, the ability to create two, three, or even four frames to dramatically boost smoothness is the current frontier. Intel’s XeSS 2.1 SDK made important strides with improved upscaling and latency control, but the absence of MFG has kept NVIDIA in a distinct lead regarding raw performance-enhancing features.
A Code Discovery: Hints of Intel XeSS MFG
The prospect of Intel entering the MFG arena emerged from a discovery made by an observant user on the IntelArc subreddit. Deep within the code of a recent Arc GPU driver, references were found to a user interface element specifically labeled for “XeSS MFG” within the Arc Control Panel. This code snippet indicates that Intel is not merely considering the technology but is already building the necessary software infrastructure for it. While the code does not detail how many MFG modes Intel plans to offer, it confirms active development is underway behind the scenes.
Intel’s Strategic Path to XeSS and MFG
Intel’s approach to graphics technology has been characterized by rapid iteration and a pragmatic adoption of proven methods. The company previously explored more experimental techniques like frame extrapolation for XeSS but ultimately settled on the industry-standard frame interpolation method for its reliability. This practical strategy suggests that any implementation of XeSS MFG would likely be robust and designed for wide compatibility upon release. Given Intel’s history of quickly catching up to its rivals, the integration of MFG could significantly narrow the feature gap with NVIDIA.
What XeSS MFG Would Mean for Gamers
The introduction of Multi-Frame Generation to Intel’s XeSS technology would be a major win for gamers using Arc graphics cards. It would provide a powerful tool to achieve exceptionally high frame rates in demanding titles, enhancing smoothness and responsiveness. With AMD also preparing its own major “Redstone” update for FSR, the potential arrival of Intel XeSS MFG sets the stage for a new wave of innovation in the upscaling sector, offering consumers more choice and compelling features regardless of their preferred GPU brand.
The evidence within the driver code is a compelling indicator that Intel is not standing still. While the company has made no official announcement, the groundwork for XeSS MFG appears to be actively in development. If Intel can successfully bring this technology to market, it would mark a crucial step in solidifying the competitive standing of its Arc GPU lineup and demonstrate its continued commitment to high-performance graphics innovations. The battle for upscaling technology is heating up, promising more advanced features for gamers in the near future.
