Nvidia is officially launching its latest AI upscaling technology, DLSS 5, this week. The technology, which was first introduced in March and met with mixed reactions, is designed to enhance the visual quality of video games in real time by using artificial intelligence. DLSS 5 will be available on the new RTX 50-series desktop and laptop GPUs, as well as through Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. The only game currently supporting DLSS 5 is NBA 2K27, which is set to release on September 3rd at 9 PM Pacific Time for PC. Nvidia described DLSS 5 as "the company’s most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since the debut of real-time ray tracing in 2018." The technology uses AI to improve a game’s visuals by enhancing details based on its original content. Developers will have control over how DLSS 5 affects their games, allowing them to adjust specific elements like textures, lighting, or character designs using customizable settings. However, the initial examples Nvidia shared in March were met with criticism, as they dramatically altered the appearance of characters in games like Resident Evil Requiem. The most notable example was the "yassification" of the game’s protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, which led to widespread memes. Despite this, Resident Evil Requiem and other games shown during the March reveal—such as EA Sports FC, Starfield, and Hogwarts Legacy—still do not support DLSS 5. Nvidia has not confirmed when these games might receive the technology, nor has it clarified whether previously announced titles will include DLSS 5. In a recent press briefing, examples from NBA 2K27 showed less dramatic changes compared to the initial reveal. DLSS 5 added more realistic shadows and textures, improving the overall look of the game without drastically altering character designs. Nvidia emphasized that developers can use various sliders to fine-tune how much DLSS 5 affects a scene, allowing them to enhance specific elements like food, objects, or environments while leaving characters’ faces untouched. While Nvidia claims that even a mid-range RTX 5060 GPU can handle NBA 2K27 at 1080p with ray tracing and DLSS 5 enabled, this requires a high-performance CPU and the use of 6x frame generation—a technique where the game only produces one real frame for every six displayed. However, DLSS 5 still comes with a significant performance cost, with Nvidia estimating a 50 to 60 percent drop in frame rates. When tested in Shadow of the Tomb Raider using an unofficial mod, performance was nearly halved. So far, Nvidia has showcased examples that highlight the best possible outcomes of DLSS 5, particularly in promoting NBA 2K27. The company has not yet tested an official version of the technology to see how it might look in practice, but it has experimented with an unofficial build used by modders on older games like Control and Skyrim. In these cases, even small applications of DLSS 5 had a noticeable visual impact.