DLSS 5 Launches in NBA 2K27, RTX 40-Series Support Promised

The release of DLSS 5 follows a period of intense scrutiny and community testing. Nvidia collaborated closely with developer Visual Concepts to integrate the technology into NBA 2K27 as an enhancement layer rather than a foundational rendering engine. The game continues to rely on scanned 3D models for base player geometry. DLSS 5 then utilizes training data and engine data to infer lighting and shadows, aiming to upgrade the scene's photorealism. This engine-level implementation allows developers to fine-tune the visual output according to creative intent, rather than applying a global AI filter across the entire frame.

Performance metrics shared by Nvidia highlight the computational demands of the new technology. In NBA 2K27, an RTX 5090 achieves 370 FPS at 4K resolution with DLSS 5 enabled, compared to 240 FPS with the feature disabled. However, this figure relies on 6x Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), where five interpolated frames are generated for every single rendered frame. This means the underlying game performance is approximately 61 FPS, indicating a significant performance drop compared to native rendering. Additionally, the image is upscaled from 1080p to 4K, further emphasizing the reliance on neural reconstruction to maintain visual fidelity.

Initially, Nvidia limited DLSS 5 to RTX 50-series hardware. This decision was likely influenced by the high compute cost of the technology, which could result in poor performance on older Ada architecture GPUs. However, community modders demonstrated that the technology could be ported to RTX 40-series, and even RTX 30-series and RTX 20-series cards, albeit with lower frame rates. In response, Nvidia has acknowledged the demand and confirmed plans to expand official support. Ben Berraondo, head of PR at Nvidia, stated that the current focus is on optimizing performance for the RTX 50-series, with model updates expected later this fall. Once performance on the newer hardware is fully tuned, the company plans to work on expanding official support to the RTX 40-series.

For users of RTX 40-series GPUs, the implementation of DLSS 5 will likely be more constrained. The Ada architecture supports up to 2x MFG, compared to the 6x MFG available on Blackwell silicon. This hardware limitation means that DLSS 5 on RTX 40-series cards will not be able to generate as many interpolated frames, potentially resulting in lower overall frame rates. The company has not provided specific benchmarks for the RTX 40-series implementation, but it is expected to be less demanding than the RTX 50-series version.

DLSS 5 is currently available exclusively in NBA 2K27. Nvidia has indicated that more titles will adopt the technology in the future. As the dataset behind the neural rendering engine matures with more game implementations, DLSS 5 may evolve to offer more refined visual results. At present, the technology functions as a simple on/off toggle in supported games, with developers handling the fine-tuning of individual parameters. Users should not expect granular control options similar to those found in community-driven tools like ReShade, as DLSS 5 is designed to be a streamlined, developer-integrated feature.

The launch of DLSS 5 represents a significant step in Nvidia's strategy to leverage AI for real-time rendering. By integrating the technology directly into the game engine, Nvidia aims to provide a more controlled and visually consistent experience. The upcoming support for RTX 40-series GPUs will be crucial in determining the broader adoption of DLSS 5, as it will make the technology accessible to a larger segment of the gaming market. The performance implications of running DLSS 5 on older hardware will be closely watched by both enthusiasts and developers as the technology continues to evolve.