Why Nvidia’s new DLSS 5 graphics technology is dividing gamers and developers

DLSS 5 is the latest AI-powered graphics technology from Nvidia that has become a huge talking point of the industry at the moment.

While DLSS has been a boon in game optimisation for players who are on lower-end hardware, the technology has seen its fair share of controversies as users decry it as a crutch developers use in place of proper optimisation.

DLSS 5 goes beyond resolution upscaling and frame generation though, with more happening under the hood than players may initially realise.

Nvidia calls the technology ‘3D-Guided Neural Rendering’, using information from the game’s visuals to enhance elements like lighting, shadows, skin, hair and materials.

Officially launching in September 2026, the technology has come under intense scrutiny, with players accusing it of messing with the intended art style set by developers, as well as characters and scenery looking uncanny.

However, Nvidia has emphasised that developers have control over how this technology is applied, controlling how strong the changes are and how they affect the visuals.

Our guide to DLSS 5 covers the confirmed compatibility for the technology, as well as real-world use, performance, as well as why the technology is seen as controversial among gamers.

What is DLSS 5 and how does it work?

DLSS 5 is the latest version of Nvidia’s DLSS technology, which uses AI upscaling processes to increase the resolution of an image to much higher benchmarks. For example, a user wanting to hit 4K resolution but not having powerful enough hardware can instead render the game at 1080p and then scale it upwards.

The technology is different from previous iterations and other upscaling processes like FSR though. This version takes the rendered image and processes it by adding or modifying the presented lighting, material, shadows and surface detail, all while still remaining anchored to what’s happening on-screen.

Is DLSS 5 generative AI?

Yes, DLSS 5 uses generative AI techniques to render these new images. Nvidia says that this is different from prompt-based image generators, with the final image being guided by game data and controlled by developers.

It doesn’t generate new content such as new levels, characters, or gameplay objects. However, some players have caught it applying brand new images or art styles when applied to games that do not natively support DLSS 5, such as the below Grand Theft Auto Vvideo:

What is the difference between DLSS 5 and DLSS 4.5?

The differences between DLSS 5 and DLSS 4.5 are quite considerable.

DLSS 4.5 primarily addresses performance, by upscaling resolution to save on performance, as well as using frame generation to fill in missing frames at the cost of some input lag.

For this reason, a game that would normally fail to run at a decent framerate on your PC is able to better reach its targets through these upscaling technologies.

However, DLSS 5 introduces neural-rendering layers which are designed to change how the image looks on-screen, based on data provided by the game. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s also using upscaled resolution and frame generation, but it can use those features of the technology as well.

How is DLSS 5 being used in games?

DLSS 5 is officially supported in NBA 2K27, which is the first game to use the technology at a native level. In-game, the technology is used to adjust lighting and detail on players hair, skin, clothing, and the court itself.

However, DLSS 5 Swapper is an app you can use which installs DLSS for other games. Bear in mind that you’ll need an RTX 50 series card to get this technology working on your PC, and you’ll also need to be aware that games that do not officially support the technology are prone to errors and hallucinations which could detract from the experience.

Which games currently support DLSS 5?

At the moment, only NBA 2K27 officially supports DLSS 5. More games are confirmed to be on the way, but adoption has been slow.

When Nvidia revealed the technology earlier this year, it named the following games as supporting DLSS 5:

• Resident Evil Requiem
• Starfield
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

However, as of September 2026, these games do not currently officially support DLSS 5, and it’s possible that the games were only used as an example of what the technology does.

Expect more titles to be announced as supporting DLSS 5 over the coming weeks and months.

Which graphics cards support DLSS 5?

DLSS 5 is officially supported on RTX 50-series video cards, including those in desktops and laptops.

This extends to GeForce Now Ultimate subscriptions, which offer you access to RTX 50-series cards through cloud streaming. Unlike subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, GeForce Now only allows you to play your owned games.

Nvidia has stated that it plans to expand this support to RTX 40-series cards GPUs once the technology has been optimised, but nothing has been confirmed for RTX 20- and 30-series cards.

How does DLSS 5 affect gaming performance?

The neural rendering technologies of DLSS 5 has a significant impact on performance due to the excessive amount of rendering going on behind the scenes. As such, upscaling and Multi Frame Generation can also be used to improve performance, but this does not necessarily mean that you’ll be able to have a smooth gaming experience with DLSS 5 activated.

Digital Foundry’s benchmarks found that the performance hit that NBA 2K27 experienced was significant. At 4K resolution on an RTX 5080, framerates went as low as 45 FPS with DLSS 5 turned on.

Given that NBA 2K27 is a relatively lighter game compared to other games demonstrated earlier this year, it’s entirely possible that an even bigger hit to performance will affect games like Hogwarts Legacy and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Why is DLSS 5 so controversial?

DLSS 5 is controversial due to the techniques used for the neural processing of the image, as well as the final results of said image.

A demonstration from earlier this year appeared to override artistic intent by changing characters’ facial features and deliberate art styles in favour of algorithmic photo-realism, which led to intense backlash from game developers and players.

Many have questioned the technology, saying that the results cause all the games to have a singular homogenised look and feel to them. Some critics have also said the games look like “AI slop” as a result.

As with previous iterations of DLSS, some players are also worried that the features of this technology may also be used as a crutch for development, compensating for weak optimisation by throwing it under a heavy layer of AI upscaling and frame generation. Let’s not forget that this technology is incredibly reliant on having the most up-to-date hardware on the market, with high-end RTX 50-series video cards costing thousands of dollars.

And then we need to take in to account the current state of the market, in which the price of RAM, graphics cards, and SSD storage has been driven up as a result of AI datacentres buying up all the stock.

What has Nvidia and developers said in response?

Nvidia has stated that DLSS 5 remains anchored to the original content of the game being used as a foundation for the technology, such as the players’ faces in NBA 2K27.

It adds that developers can control how intense the effects are applied, with most examples given being set to the highest setting possible.

Other supporters of DLSS 5 claim that it gives artists another way to design games and render what their initial intent is, and that the “AI” look to them is completely optional for devs who use the technology.

The way the technology is used in NBA 2K27, in which it looks a lot less intense, may be more representative of how the technology is applied rather than the other examples given earlier this year.

Should you use DLSS 5?

This depends on your hardware configuration, as well as performance targets as well as how you feel about the final result. As the technology is still new, expect there to be some hiccups.

If you’re against using generative AI tools, this also comes into play as the tools utilise this technology to produce the final image.

If you’re weighing up whether to use the technology, consider if faces, lighting, and textures look consistent with the game’s intended art style, as well as the effect on performance of the game.

Using upscaling and frame generation to get better frames in-game may also result in input lag and other issues, which are also worth considering. At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to whether you prefer photo-realistic graphics or having a better latency and performance.