NVIDIA's DLSS 5: Slop Or Not?
People have been messing around with it in different games.
Back in the spring, NVIDIA dropped a bombshell with its next-generation DLSS, claiming it could deliver "photorealism" through a new generative AI model. Everyone formed an opinion almost immediately, even as Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, tried to explain that the results are still "conditioned by the artistry of the artist."
DLSS 5 isn't officially out yet, though footage showing it in various games has already been circulating online over the weekend. Apparently, NBA 2K27, now in early access, has leaked it through a new NVIDIA library called nvngx_dlssnr.dll, and modders have already managed to get it working in several games.
With screenshots and videos popping up everywhere, it's hard to tell how many of them are actually authentic. Faces are once again at the center of attention, after DLSS 5 was initially criticized for making characters look "AI-generated". There are apparently ways to tweak them, though whether that's really respectful of the artist's vision is another good question.
Below are just a few examples, so check them out for yourself and see what you think of the direction DLSS 5 is heading in. Daniel Vávra, Creative Director at Warhorse Studios, for example, says he sees huge potential in the technology's future.
NVIDIA hasn't revealed which GPUs will officially support DLSS 5 yet. It's generally expected to be limited to the GeForce RTX 50 series, but that hasn't stopped enthusiasts from testing the technology on RTX 30-series cards.
As you might expect, the performance isn't great at the moment. It's worth noting that it's still a mod, and we also don't know what NVIDIA has planned for the final release, or even when DLSS 5 will officially launch, so things could change quite a bit.
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