Global chipmaker NVIDIA just unveiled the latest iteration of its Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, which infuses in-game pixels with photorealistic lighting, claiming to bridge the gap between graphical rendering and reality.
Announced at NVIDIA’s GTC 2026, this new version of DLSS “encourages game developers to push for even more photorealistic visuals,” a feature previously seen only in Hollywood visual effects.
“Twenty-five years after NVIDIA invented the programmable shader, we are reinventing computer graphics once again,” said Jensen Huang, CEO, NVIDIA.
The NVIDIA CEO also said that DLSS 5 is the generative pre-trained transformer for computer graphics that blends generative AI (GenAI) to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism, while preserving the control game developers need for artistic expression.
Originally released in 2018 to boost performance through upscaling, DLSS 5 now uses a game’s color and motion vectors for each frame, infusing an AI model to deliver photorealistic lighting and materials tied to the game itself, frame by frame.
This AI model is trained end-to-end to understand complex scenes and materials, such as hair, fabric, and translucent skin, as well as various environmental lighting conditions, by analyzing them in a single frame.
DLSS 5 offers game developers granular controls over intensity, color grading, and masking. This allows artists and developers to precisely determine how and where enhancements are applied, thereby preserving each game’s distinct aesthetic.
DLSS 5 will be supported by gaming’s biggest publishers, including Bethesda, CAPCOM, Hotta Studio, NetEase, NCSOFT, S-Game, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Games.
“Bethesda has such a rich history pushing graphics with NVIDIA, going all the way back to Morrowind, with that incredible water,” said Todd Howard, head and executive producer of Bethesda Studio.
This new tech will also be available for games such as AION 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and many more. DLSS 5 will also release sometime in September.
