Resident Evil Developers Unaware of DLSS 5 Announcement

The debate surrounding Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is heating up after the company showcased its AI-driven technology recently. Nvidia representatives touted DLSS 5 as “the most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since real-time ray tracing emerged in 2018.” However, many in the gaming community quickly raised concerns that this technology could distort the artistic vision of developers, with social media buzzing over the oddly altered appearance of Grace Ashcroft from Resident Evil Requiem. Reports indicate that Capcom developers were largely unaware of their studio’s collaboration with Nvidia.

Set to launch this fall, DLSS 5 will be compatible with titles from various developers, including Bethesda, Capcom, NetEase, Tencent, Warner Bros., and Ubisoft. Insiders at Capcom expressed surprise at the announcement, especially given the studio’s previous stance against AI in projects like Resident Evil Requiem and other upcoming games. Ubisoft staff were similarly caught off guard, with one remarking, “We found out at the same time as the public.”

In contrast, Ubisoft’s Charlie Guillemot praised the technology in a press release from Nvidia, stating, “Immersion is about making the world feel real. DLSS 5 is a real step towards that goal. The way it renders lighting, materials, and characters changes what we can promise to players. On Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it’s letting us build the kind of worlds we’ve always wanted to.”

While it’s not unusual for executives to keep their teams in the dark about certain business moves, the Nvidia partnership could signal a shift in Capcom’s culture. The studio dedicated considerable effort to ensure that characters like Grace and Leon felt authentically human in Requiem. Angela Sant’Albano, who portrayed Grace, shared with Polygon that her role demanded extensive physical performance, conducted in a motion-capture studio alongside her scene partners. “It brought humanity to the game in a way that makes it feel that much more real, so the story can shine, which was wonderful for an actor. I think that’s kind of the dream,” she explained.

Leon S. Kennedy’s voice actor, Nick Apostolides, also spoke to Polygon about his deep connection to the series, which he believes resonates with fans: “The OG fans also respect what I’ve done because they know I respect the source material, and I respect the performances that came in the past.”

Even if studios don’t plan to use DLSS 5 to modify human performances, the early indications suggest that the technology could risk overshadowing those performances. Regardless, this controversy is far from over, and we can expect more discussions as the launch approaches.