GameNative Update Brings Lossless Scaling Technology to Android
Running full PC games on an Android device has evolved from a mere party trick to a practical use case in recent years. Apps like GameNative have played a significant role in bridging the gap between mobile hardware and the desktop gaming experience. The latest update to GameNative takes this a step further by introducing support for Lossless Scaling’s multi-frame generation technology to Android for the first time.
For those unfamiliar, Lossless Scaling Frame Generation (LSFG) is a renowned frame interpolation tool on Windows that can greatly enhance perceived frame rates in games that struggle to achieve high numbers. The new implementation of LSFG in GameNative brings a Vulkan-compatible version of this technology to Android, albeit with some differences from the desktop original.
Instead of functioning as a system-wide overlay, frame generation in GameNative requires users to enable it on a per-game basis through the app’s container settings. Once a game is downloaded via the user’s Steam account and frame generation is activated, users can adjust settings such as the multiplier, flow scale, and toggle a performance-focused variant of the FG model from the quick access menu.
The results showcased in the patch notes are impressive. A test run using The Last of Us Part 1 demonstrated the game running at a base of 30 FPS, with LSFG-VK boosting it to 60 FPS at 2x, 80 FPS at 3x, and a full 100 FPS at 4x frame generation. This is particularly noteworthy as it means GameNative can now fully utilize the high-refresh-rate displays found on most mid-range and high-end Android phones.
For the community of individuals running PC titles on Android hardware, this update is a significant victory. Achieving AAA games at 60 FPS on Android already demands top-tier hardware, making triple-digit frame rates through frame generation a practical solution for fully leveraging high-refresh-rate screens on more typical devices. While the ecosystem may still have its rough edges, it continues to progress forward.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
