Nvidia has responded to the widespread criticism of its new tech known as DLSS 5, which it says will “[bridge] the divide between rendering and reality”, but from what we have seen so far mostly appears to layer a gaudy AI filter over a game’s original work.
The newly-announced AI-powered tech includes an upscaling filter, with Nvidia stating it will allow developers to “deliver a new level of photoreal computer graphics previously only achieved in Hollywood visual effects”. In the case of Resident Evil Requiem’s Grace Ashcroft, the DLSS 5 filter appeared to alter her original appearance by enlarging her lips and giving her more makeup. Needless to say, this was all met with more than a handful of raised eyebrows, with terms like “AI slop” being bandied about.
However, when asked for a comment on the criticism surrounding DLSS 5 from both professionals and fans, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said: “Well, first of all, they’re completely wrong.” Instead, the exec stressed that control over how DLSS 5 is implemented in a game lies with its developers.
“The reason for that is because, as I have explained very carefully, DLSS 5 fuses controllability of the of geometry and textures and everything about the game with generative AI,” Huang furthered during a Q&A at GTC 2026, which was attended by Tom’s Hardware.
The CEO added those using the tech will be able to “fine-tune the generative AI” to make it match a game’s visual style, claiming that DLSS 5 adds generative capability to existing game geometry, but “doesn’t change the artistic control” developers have.
“It’s not post-processing, it’s not post-processing at the frame level, it’s generative control at the geometry level,” Huang said, before closing:
“All of that is in the control – direct control – of the game developer… This is very different [from] generative AI; it’s content-control generative AI. That’s why we call it neural rendering.”
This is something that Bethesda has already sought to assure its community about. Yesterday, after the reveal of DLSS 5 and the subsequent backlash, the studio said it would be “further adjusting the lighting and final effect” of the tech’s visuals on Starfield and beyond. “This will all be under our artists’ control, and totally optional for players,” Bethesda said of DLSS 5.
As for when we will be able to fully judge for ourselves, DLSS 5 is coming “later this year”, Nvidia has said.
