Nvidia’s DLSS 5 AI Slop Filter Leak Transforms Iconic Game Characters into Uncanny Valley Creatures

In March, Nvidia introduced DLSS 5, the latest iteration of its Deep Learning Super Sampling technology, with a tentative launch planned for fall 2026. This version features a generative AI upscaling mode that significantly changes the visual style of games. The initial reaction online was one of shock and criticism regarding the AI-enhanced visuals, prompting Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, to assert that the public’s concerns were misguided and that developers like Capcom and Bethesda were excited about the “artistic control” DLSS 5 provides.

Recently, an early version of DLSS 5 leaked through the early access build of NBA 2K27. According to reports, the “nvngx_dlssnr.dll” library file was identified as version 310.8.0.0 of NVIDIA DLSSNR, containing the unreleased runtime for DLSS 5 Neural Rendering.

Within hours, the RenoDX modding community successfully integrated DLSS 5 into Remedy Entertainment’s Control. If the goal was to make Jesse Faden appear as an elderly character, they certainly achieved it.

Modders have since adapted the DLSS 5 filter for other titles, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The Skyrim mod results in a rather unsettling effect, giving characters a vacant, lifeless appearance, while the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth screenshots bizarrely transform Cloud into a version of Scarlett Johansson leading humanity against AI overlords. It’s a wild visual shift reminiscent of live-action adaptations like Ghost in the Shell.

However, reports indicate that this unreleased version of DLSS 5 is causing significant performance issues, with some users experiencing nearly a 50 percent drop in frame rates during testing.

Despite the internet’s amusement at the unpolished look of the DLSS 5 filter, it’s crucial to remember that this is an incomplete, leaked version being forced into games ahead of the official rollout. DLSS 5 is still on track for a Fall 2026 release, which could mean the official version is just around the corner. This timing might explain the inclusion of the DLSS 5 library file in NBA 2K27’s early access, as the game is set to launch globally on September 4.