NVIDIA DLSS 5 is finally here. NBA 2K27 is the first game to support DLSS 5 and offer players the chance to see what NVIDIA’s new neural rendering technology can actually do. This technology is designed to make PC games look better without asking gamers to sacrifice performance. While the previous versions of DLSS focused on Super Resolution, Frame Generation, and Multi-Frame Generation for improved performance, DLSS 5 adds more realistic lighting and material details in real time.
Initially, when it was introduced, the technology was expected to be restricted to GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs; however, recent reports indicate that NVIDIA confirmed that the technology will support GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards. DLSS 5 uses AI to improve the look of games. It can make lighting, shadows, skin, hair, and other details look more natural. The RTX 40 version is still being worked on, so there is no launch date yet.
RTX 40 owners may now have a good reason to wait. NVIDIA confirmed that DLSS 5 uses 3D-Guided Neural Rendering, including more natural light reflecting through skin, light transmission through hair and foliage, better shadows, and improved global illumination.
The company needs to make DLSS 5 work well with the fourth-generation Tensor cores found in RTX 40 cards, and it will take some time.
For gamers planning to switch to an RTX 50 card for DLSS 5, waiting could be the smarter choice. Their current GPU may get the feature later. RTX 50 cards still have an early lead, but RTX 40 cards may get it within a few months. So, it’s better to be patient.
RTX 40 support could bring DLSS 5 to a much wider PC gaming audience. It also means many gamers may not need to replace their graphics cards just to try NVIDIA’s latest AI features.