NVIDIA officially launches DLSS 5 using 3D-driven neural rendering technology. The first project to adopt the new system is Visual Concepts and 2K’s basketball simulator NBA 2K27. It’s available to owners of GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards and eligible laptops, as well as GeForce NOW Ultimate subscribers using a GeForce RTX 5080-based cloud gaming system.
DLSS 5, unlike previous versions, doesn’t just use neural networks to improve performance or restore images. This system becomes an additional rendering step and adds lighting and material details to the finished frame. NVIDIA calls this approach 3D-driven neural rendering.
DLSS 5 still works on frames generated by the game engine. The neural network receives information about color, motion, geometry, surface, lighting and normals and then processes the image taking this data into account. The technology works deterministically and maintains image stability between frames.
One of the main goals of developers is to avoid producing randomly varying characteristics of the model. DLSS 5 processes frames on an input-output basis and uses the game engine’s motion vectors. According to NVIDIA, this method prevents flickering, floating details, and gradual changes in the image when the camera moves.
Neural networks could improve the interaction of light with various materials. The result is light scattering below the skin surface, light passing through hair and foliage, more pronounced contact shadows, and improved global illumination.
Game developers receive separate tools to customize the results. DLSS 5 offers different model, structural and pitch intensity parameters as well as semantic masks. With their help, you can enhance the processing of individual objects or, on the contrary, limit it. For example, characters can remain virtually unchanged, and additional processing can be applied to vegetation and environmental elements.
NBA 2K27 uses technology to enhance the details of real-life basketball players. For their faces, light dispersion under the skin has been improved, hair takes on a more natural lighting effect, and contact shadows become more visible. Similar treatment applies to spectators and courtside personnel. Of course, DLSS 5 can be used with other NVIDIA technologies such as image scaling, frame generation, and multi-frame generation to increase FPS.
To enable DLSS 5 in NBA 2K27, you must have the latest GeForce Game Ready drivers. After installation, the DLSS Neural Rendering project will appear in the image settings menu. This feature can be turned on and off directly during gameplay and replayed using the F9 key.
NVIDIA also lists other projects that have or will soon receive DLSS technical support:
- Star Wars Zero Company — DLSS 4.5 super-resolution and multi-frame generation.
- Alien: Fireteam 2 – DLSS Super Resolution; with NVIDIA app support, you can upgrade to DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution.
- Crimson Moon — DLSS 4.5 super resolution, multi-frame generation and NVIDIA Reflex.
- “Onimusha: Path of the Sword” – DLSS 4.5 super resolution, multi-frame generation, DLAA and NVIDIA Reflex; also supports ray tracing.
- Blood of the Dawn Treader – DLSS Super Resolution, upgradable to DLSS 4.5 through the NVIDIA app.
- Die or die – DLSS 4.5 super resolution.
- Tide of Destruction – DLSS 4.5, ray tracing and path tracing.
- Controlling Resonance – Path Tracing and DLSS 4.5.
- Gears of War: E-Day – DLSS 4.5, Ray Tracing and RTX Mega Geometry.
- ANANTA – DLSS 4.5 and Ray Tracing.
- SPINE – This Is a Gun – Previously announced support for DLSS 3 has been updated to DLSS 4.5.
- CINDER CITY – DLSS 4.5 super resolution and ray tracing.
- AION 2 — DLSS 4.5 super resolution.
- Beast of Reincarnation – Ray tracing of DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution, Lumen lighting, shadows and lighting in Unreal Engine 5.
- Breathedge 2 – DLSS super-resolution and frame generation; via NVIDIA applications, they can be upgraded to DLSS 4.5 super-resolution and dynamic multi-frame generation.
DLSS 5 is currently available for all desktop and mobile GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards. NVIDIA also announced that it is working on further optimizing the technology and plans to release a new version of the model in the fall.
It’s worth noting that despite the limitation of supporting only one game, enthusiasts have been able to run the technology in many other projects, including using earlier model graphics cards.