NVIDIA unveiled DLSS 5 at the NVIDIA GTC 2026 AI and accelerated computing conference held in San Jose on the 17th. Following the real-time ray tracing technology announced in 2018, this represents the next generation of graphics technology from NVIDIA. DLSS 5 is scheduled for release this autumn.

DLSS 5 introduces a real-time neural rendering model that adds photorealistic lighting and textures to pixels. This technology bridges the gap between rendering and reality, helping to achieve realistic computer graphics. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, stated, "DLSS 5 is the 'GPT moment' for graphics, combining manual rendering with generative AI to dramatically enhance visual fidelity while allowing artists to maintain the control they need for creative expression."

DLSS 5 takes the color and motion vectors of each frame as input and uses an AI model to add realistic lighting and textures to the scene. These lighting and textures are based on the original 3D content and maintain consistency between frames. DLSS 5 supports smooth, interactive gameplay by running in real-time at up to 4K resolution. The AI model has been trained end-to-end to understand complex scene elements such as characters, hair, fabrics, and translucent skin, as well as environmental lighting conditions like front lighting, backlighting, and overcast weather.

DLSS 5 will be supported by major publishers and developers, including Bethesda, Capcom, Hotta Studio, NetEase, NCSoft, S-Game, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Games. It is expected to be applied to various games such as 'AION 2', 'Black State', 'CINDER CITY', 'Delta Force', 'Hogwarts Legacy', 'Justice', 'NARAKA: BLADEPOINT', 'Neverness to Everness (NTE)', 'Phantom Blade Zero', 'Resident Evil Requiem', 'Sea of Remnants', 'The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered', and 'Where Winds Meet'.

However, user reactions to the technology have not been positive. The main criticism is that character faces feel AI-generated, with many pointing out that the characters look significantly different from the originals. Some users expressed their criticism in the comments on the official YouTube video, stating, "The game looks like an AI-generated image," "We have moved past frame generation and into frame hallucination," and "Grace's face in Resident Evil Requiem looks completely different."