Nvidia has unveiled its latest advancement in AI upscaling technology, DLSS 5, which promises to fundamentally alter a game's lighting and material properties.
Announced during Nvidia's GTC conference on Monday, DLSS 5 is already generating significant discussion, with early reactions suggesting it will be a divisive update. While some critics have labeled its effects as "slop" that compromises artistic intent, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang boldly described it as the "GPT moment for graphics — blending hand-crafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression."
Unlike previous iterations of upscaling that leveraged machine learning to bridge visual gaps, DLSS 5 employs generative AI to actively rework lighting and materials, introducing details that appear entirely new. In supported titles, the technology can deliver immediate and noticeable enhancements to lighting and shadows. However, examples showcased by Nvidia from games such as *Resident Evil Requiem*, *Starfield*, *Hogwarts Legacy*, and *EA Sports FC* — while appearing more lifelike — also exhibit alterations reminiscent of the "AI slop" observed in other creative fields like photography and video.
Nvidia explains its sophisticated approach, stating, "The AI model is trained end to end to understand complex scene semantics such as characters, hair, fabric and translucent skin, along with environmental lighting conditions like front-lit, back-lit or overcast — all by analyzing a single frame. DLSS 5 then uses its deep understanding to generate visually precise images that handle complex elements such as subsurface scattering on skin, the delicate sheen of fabric and light-material interactions on hair, all while retaining the structure and semantics of the original scene."
One of the most striking effects of DLSS 5 appears to be its profound impact on character models. In *Resident Evil Requiem*, for instance, the generative AI applied to the original assets transforms protagonist Grace Ashcroft, giving her an appearance akin to having used an Instagram filter, with fuller lips and intensified eye shadow.
Similarly, its implementation in *Starfield* yields "uncanny" results, creating an impression of maximum sharpness and bright highlights that make characters' features and hair look "stage lit," even when the environment's actual lighting conditions do not support such an effect. Despite this, Todd Howard, studio head at Bethesda Game Studios, expressed enthusiasm, quoted by Nvidia saying, "When NVIDIA showed us DLSS 5 and we got it running in *Starfield*, it was amazing how it brought it to life. We’ve played it. We can’t wait for all of you to do so as well."
Capable of running in real-time at resolutions up to 4K, DLSS 5 is poised to satisfy a segment of gamers and developers pursuing photorealism. Yet, its transformative nature will not appeal to everyone. Game developer Mike Bithell starkly criticized the technology, writing, "For when you absolutely, positively, don’t want any art direction in your gaming experience. Disappointing to see anyone take this nonsense seriously. Such a mess."
Nvidia, however, emphasizes that DLSS 5 offers game developers extensive controls over its visual impact. This suggests that the in-game effects upon release could differ significantly from current demonstrations, allowing for customization.
The company asserts that DLSS 5 respects artistic intent through two primary mechanisms. Firstly, it integrates the game’s color and motion vectors for each frame directly into the AI model, ensuring the output remains anchored to the source 3D content. Secondly, developers are provided with granular controls, including intensity and color grading. Artists can utilize these tools to fine-tune blending, contrast, saturation, and gamma, precisely determining where and how enhancements are applied to preserve the game's unique aesthetic. Furthermore, developers have the option to mask specific objects or areas, excluding them from the enhancement process.
DLSS 5 is scheduled for release this fall. Currently, it is confirmed to be compatible with a select roster of games, which, in addition to those previously mentioned, includes anticipated titles such as *The Elder Scrolls VI: Oblivion* remake and *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.
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