Nvidia launches DLSS 5 this week, limited to RTX 50 GPUs and NBA 2K27

The official rollout of DLSS 5 begins on 3 September, but the supported hardware and software remain narrowly scoped: only RTX 50 series graphics cards – both desktop and laptop – and GeForce Now can run the feature, and the sole game offering it at launch is NBA 2K27, which will become downloadable at 21:00 Pacific time. The March announcement sparked sharp controversy after early demonstrations displayed a drastic alteration of character visuals, prompting the technology to be dubbed a “real-time generative AI filter” and likened to “motion smoothing, only worse”.

Nvidia described DLSS 5 as “the most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since the introduction of real-time ray tracing in 2018”. The approach relies on an AI model that enhances the image based on the game’s original content, supplemented by a set of sliders that give developers precise control over the level of intervention; developers can boost shadows and textures, leave faces untouched, and amplify only metallic surfaces, food or foliage.

Early demos attracted widespread ridicule for “exaggerated” rendering of characters, the most prominent example being Grace Ashcroft from Resident Evil Requiem. Yet the current launch does not include any of the titles showcased in March: neither Requiem, EA Sports FC, Starfield nor Hogwarts Legacy support the technology. Nvidia has not indicated when additional games will receive support, nor has it reconfirmed that the promised titles remain in development.

During a press briefing Nvidia displayed a build of NBA 2K27 with DLSS 5 enabled, and the visual changes appeared far more restrained: shadows and textures add realism to players without turning them into AI caricatures. Developers receive granular control over each scene element, allowing fine-tuned adjustments rather than a blanket effect.

Early demonstrations required a pair of RTX 5090 cards, but Nvidia claims a single RTX 5060 suffices for 1080p with ray tracing and DLSS 5 on Ultra, provided the system includes one of the fastest CPUs and runs a 6× frame-generation mode (one “real” frame for every six displayed). Nvidia estimates the performance penalty at 50-60 percent, and an informal test on Shadow of the Tomb Raider showed frame rates roughly halved.

Modders have already released unofficial DLSS 5 builds for older titles such as Control and Skyrim, where a “light touch” of the technology makes a noticeable difference. The official build has not yet undergone independent verification, so a complete assessment of how DLSS 5 performs outside Nvidia’s controlled environment is expected in the coming days.