NVIDIA Corporation, a global leader in AI and accelerated computing, unveiled DLSS 5 today at its GTC event, marking the company’s most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since the debut of real-time ray tracing in 2018.
Arriving this fall, DLSS 5 introduces a real-time neural rendering model that infuses game pixels with photorealistic lighting and materials, bridging the divide between cinematic-quality visuals and interactive gameplay.
The technology allows developers to achieve a level of visual realism previously only possible in Hollywood visual effects.
“Twenty-five years after NVIDIA invented the programmable shader, we are reinventing computer graphics once again,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics-blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression.”
Since the introduction of NVIDIA GeForce™, the company has consistently expanded the graphics capabilities available to developers. From programmable shaders with GeForce 3 in 2001, to CUDA® with GeForce 8800 GTX™ in 2006, to real-time ray tracing on GeForce RTX™ 2080 Ti in 2018, and path tracing and neural shaders with GeForce RTX 5090 in 2025, NVIDIA has delivered significant architectural innovations and a 375,000x increase in compute to enable realistic graphics.
Traditional real-time rendering, however, still falls far short of the photoreal quality achievable in Hollywood, where frames can take minutes or hours to render.
DLSS, first released in 2018, initially boosted performance by upscaling resolution and generating new frames, and has since been integrated into more than 750 games. The technology has evolved with DLSS 4.5, which uses AI to generate 23 out of every 24 pixels on screen. DLSS 5 moves beyond performance to enhance visual fidelity, using each frame’s colour and motion vectors to infuse scenes with photoreal lighting and materials anchored to the game’s 3D content.
The AI model understands complex elements such as characters, hair, fabric, and translucent skin, as well as environmental lighting conditions, producing visually precise images while maintaining the scene’s structure and semantics. DLSS 5 operates in real time at resolutions up to 4K and provides developers with detailed control over intensity, colour grading, and masking, allowing artists to maintain the unique aesthetic of each game.
DLSS 5 will be supported by major game publishers and developers, including Bethesda, CAPCOM, Hotta Studio, NetEase, NCSOFT, S-GAME, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Games.
“NVIDIA and Bethesda have a long history of pushing gaming graphics and innovation forward, and DLSS 5 represents the next major step in that journey,” said Todd Howard, studio head and executive producer at Bethesda Game Studios. “With DLSS 5, the artistic style and detail shine through without being held back by the traditional limits of real-time rendering. We’re excited to work with this new technology and look to bring DLSS 5 to Starfield and future Bethesda titles.”
“At CAPCOM, we strive to create experiences that feel cinematic, compelling and deeply believable,” said Jun Takeuchi, executive producer at CAPCOM. “DLSS 5 represents another important step in pushing visual fidelity forward, helping players become even more immersed in the world of Resident Evil.” Charlie Guillemot, co-CEO of Vantage Studios, said, “Immersion is about making the world feel real. DLSS 5 is a real step towards that goal. The way it renders lighting, materials and characters changes what we can promise to players. On Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it’s letting us build the kind of worlds we’ve always wanted,” he added.
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DLSS 5 will be integrated into upcoming games, including AION 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Black State, CINDER CITY, Delta Force, Hogwarts Legacy, Justice, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, NTE: Neverness to Everness, Phantom Blade Zero, Resident Evil Requiem, Sea of Remnants, Starfield, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Where Winds Meet. The technology will be available to gamers this fall, offering unprecedented real-time visual fidelity powered by AI.
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