DLSS 5 Surfaces in Leaks, Modders Enhance Games with Nvidia’s AI Effects

Modders are diving into an unofficial version of Nvidia’s DLSS 5, experimenting with it in games like Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077, and GTA V after discovering code for the AI upscaling technology in an early-access build of NBA 2K27. Members of the RenoDX modding channel on Discord managed to extract the DLSS “Neural Rendering” file and initially applied it to Control, which then spread to other titles.

In one demonstration, a modder showcases how the facial features of Control’s protagonist, Jesse Faden, shift in detail as they adjust various DLSS 5 settings. With the “Neural Uplift” feature turned off, Jesse’s face appears smooth and uniform. However, activating this setting with one of the presets results in a paler complexion, more pronounced laugh lines, and what seems like smudged makeup under her eyes.

Another modder has successfully implemented DLSS 5 in GTA: San Andreas, where it enhances CJ’s facial details and improves textures throughout the city. The shadows on CJ’s face and in the environment become more defined, and the city’s lighting shifts from warm to cool as the modder tweaks the settings. Numerous other videos are circulating online, showcasing the DLSS 5 mod enhancing the cartoonish style of characters in games like Palworld and adjusting shadow intensity.

The impact of the mod on game performance has been notable. One user testing it with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reported a significant drop in frames per second (FPS), claiming it “halves” their FPS and that switching between presets consumes a lot of VRAM. In GTA V, another modder observed a drop from 90 to 29 FPS while adjusting sliders. Initially, the unofficial DLSS 5 was running on RTX 50-series GPUs, but some modders have now managed to get it working on RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 cards as well.

Reactions to this unofficial tech are mixed. While some players appreciate the visual enhancements, others criticize the results as “AI slop,” likening them to an overly processed filter applied to images.

Nvidia first unveiled DLSS 5 in March, touting its ability to deliver “photoreal lighting and materials” in real-time. Early demos featuring DLSS 5 in games like Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, and Hogwarts Legacy faced backlash, with players expressing concerns over characters appearing “yassified” or too generic. Some worried it might compromise a developer’s artistic vision, but Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang assured that the tool “doesn’t change the artistic control.” The official launch of DLSS 5 is expected this fall.