🏀 Nvidia launched DLSS 5 with NBA 2K27, currently exclusive to RTX 50 Series cards
📉 Despite reports of significant performance drops, Nvidia plans to bring DLSS 5 to 40 Series cards in the future
🔧 Nvidia’s priority is currently optimizing DLSS 5 performance for the 50 Series, with updates expected later this fall
🚀 Nvidia has achieved significant performance optimizations for DLSS 5 in the last six months, with further improvements expected
Nvidia’s DLSS 5 launched today with the release of NBA 2K27, and brings unprecedented realism for those who own an RTX GeForce 50 Series cards.
However, despite reports showing DLSS 5 can reduce performance by over 70%, Nvidia is planning to bring the technology to RTX GeForce 40 Series cards in the future.
Ben Berraondo, senior director of global PR of GeForce at Nvidia, replied to a user on X asking for DLSS 5 on the 4090. He said: “Our current focus is on optimizing performance for the GeForce RTX 50 Series with model updates expected later this fall. Once RTX 50 Series performance is more fully tuned, we plan to work on expanding official support to the GeForce RTX 40 Series.”
Berraondo also commented on how far Nvidia has optimized DLSS 5 already in just six months. In a response to PC Gamer’s post that DLSS can slash frames rate by up to 73% on an RTX 5080, Berraondo said: “I’ve been lucky enough to work in gaming and tech for over 2 decades; seeing a next-gen leap does not happen very often. The team working on this are incredible - what ran on 2 x RTX 5090 in March is now [working] across all 50 series and getting faster - more than a 5X leap in 6 months.”
There’s no doubt that DLSS 5 will improve dramatically in the coming months, which should make the technology more viable. However, unlike ray tracing, hopefully it doesn’t take multiple generations of cards to get to a state where it’s viable.
DLSS 5 caused huge controversy when it was first revealed, with many declaring it to be “AI Slop” and a beautification filter. Nvidia refuted those claims, and has shown that the tech can be fine-tuned by developers, disabled and, crucially, doesn’t change the artistic intent. You’ll just need a 50 Series card to run it, currently.
Up next: I asked a non-gamer what they thought of Nvidia’s DLSS 5 – and it went exactly how I expected
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.