NVIDIA DLSS 5 Release Date Announced: Here Are the Supported Cards
NVIDIA announced the new generation DLSS 5 technology. Offering photorealistic lighting with 3D-Guided Neural Rendering, the technology is coming first to NBA 2K27.
NVIDIA has officially introduced DLSS 5, a new chapter in graphics processing technologies. The “3D-Guided Neural Rendering” technology, introduced with this new generation, allows in-game graphics to come much closer to photorealism. First launched on September 3rd with NBA 2K27, DLSS 5 will be active on all GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards and the GeForce NOW cloud gaming platform.
What is 3D-Guided Neural Rendering and How Does it Work?
Going beyond traditional pixel scaling and frame rendering techniques, DLSS 5 positions artificial intelligence as a direct phase of the processing. After the game engine creates the scene’s geometry, textures, and lighting, the resulting color and motion vectors are transferred to the DLSS 5 model. Using the Pixel Space Diffusion Transformer model, the system analyzes the frames, bringing the light and material interactions to the most realistic form possible.
According to technical information shared by NVIDIA, this system works completely differently from generative AI models that generate random images from scratch. Based on the raw frame produced by the game engine, the algorithm rearranges the lighting, contact shadows, and ambient occlusion without distorting the characters’ original geometry. Thus, visual anomalies such as flickering, shifting, or distortion between objects are avoided.
A New Level in Character Modeling with DLSS 5: Skin and Light Interaction
Character modeling is one of the areas where the technology’s impact is most clearly demonstrated. In the NBA 2K27 demo, featuring star players like Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum, the subsurface scattering technology is clearly improved. The color temperature when the arena lights hit the players’ skin, the way sweat is reflected, the illumination of hair strands, and realistic contact shadows all provide a much more natural visual experience. Developers can directly control the game’s visual direction by selecting different models (Model A, B, C) and intensity settings depending on the scene.
| Graphics Card Model | Resolution and Settings | Frame Rate Achieved (Average FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 4K Ultra (Ray Tracing On) | Up to 370 FPS |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 1440p Ultra | Up to 590 FPS |
| GeForce RTX 5080 | 1440p Ultra | Up to 410 FPS |
| GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 1440p Ultra | Up to 350 FPS |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 1440p Ultra | Up to 260 FPS |
DLSS 5 Performance and Release Schedule: What Awaits Gamers?
DLSS 5 not only enhances visual quality; it also works integrated with Super Resolution and Multi Frame Generation components to maximize frame rates. According to performance tables shared by NVIDIA, the flagship RTX 5090 reaches a limit of 370 FPS in NBA 2K27 at 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled.
At 1440p resolution, the RTX 5080 promises a smooth experience at 410 FPS, the RTX 5070 Ti at 350 FPS, and the RTX 5070 model at 260 FPS.
This technology, which doesn’t require players to deal with complex settings, is available as an easy on/off option in the game menu. This transition, which will begin with NBA 2K27 on September 3rd, is expected to be gradually integrated into other major productions in the coming period.
