Arm is setting the stage for a seismic shift in mobile graphics. By 2026, the chip design giant plans to embed dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) directly into its GPUs—ushering in a new era of intelligent rendering, faster frame rates, and console-quality visuals on mobile devices.
Today’s mobile GPUs handle AI tasks using general-purpose compute shaders, which are not optimized for machine learning. The result? Slower performance and higher power consumption. Arm’s new architecture changes that by integrating NPUs directly into the GPU pipeline, enabling real-time AI inference that’s faster, smarter, and more efficient.
Arm’s new Neural Super Sampling (NSS) engine is a game-changer. It uses AI to upscale low-resolution frames—like 540p to 1080p—in just 4 milliseconds, delivering near-native image quality while cutting GPU workload in half. NSS builds on Arm’s earlier Accuracy Super Resolution (ASR) and supports advanced techniques like:
- Anti-aliasing
- Denoising
- Texture enhancement
This means smoother gameplay, sharper visuals, and longer battery life—all powered by AI.
Arm isn’t waiting for 2026 to get developers on board. Its neural graphics toolkit includes:
- A plugin for Unreal Engine
- Vulkan-based emulators
- Profiling and debugging tools
- Open-source models hosted on GitHub and Hugging Face
These resources let developers experiment with neural rendering today, preparing for tomorrow’s hardware.
Arm’s roadmap includes even more ambitious features:
- Neural Frame Rate Upscaling (NFRU): AI-generated intermediate frames for smoother motion
- Neural Denoising & Super Sampling (NSSD): High-quality rendering with fewer rays per pixel
- On-the-fly inference from game engines: Dynamic enhancements during live gameplay
These innovations could redefine how games are built and experienced—especially on mobile.
Top studios like Epic Games, Tencent, and NetEase are already backing Arm’s neural graphics push. By making its models and architecture open-source, Arm is inviting the entire industry to collaborate and innovate.
Share to your social below!
