The fifth generation of Deep Learning Super Sampling technology (DLSS 5) is scheduled for release shortly after tomorrow, coinciding with the launch of NBA 2K27, which will be the first title to employ it. Recently, a file from this game was leaked online, enabling the unofficial application of DLSS 5 in virtually any PC game.
This event generated great excitement, leading users, content creators on YouTube, and technology journalists worldwide to test the leaked version of DLSS 5 in various games, achieving notable visual results in many cases.
The tests conducted confirmed the expectations presented by Nvidia in April. The new technology uses Artificial Intelligence algorithms to enhance lighting and add details to games, giving them an almost photorealistic appearance.
There were criticisms in April alleging that DLSS 5 could infringe upon the autonomy of game developers by altering character appearances. However, developers maintain control over which DLSS 5 effects and with what intensity will be implemented in their titles.
For the end consumer, activating DLSS 5 requires an RTX 5000 series graphics card. The unofficial leaked file has two peculiarities: it allows the use of DLSS 5 on older cards, such as the RTX 3000 and 4000 series (although with inferior performance, since these do not have the necessary hardware to run the new AI), and it allows adjustment of the algorithm's intensity levels.
Initially, demonstrating DLSS 5 required two RTX 5090 cards, top-tier models costing over R$ 20,000 each. Nvidia has been working to make the algorithm lighter, and it is currently presented as compatible with all 5000 series cards.
However, the leaked version indicates that the algorithm is still quite demanding, resulting in a 50% to 60% drop in frames per second (fps), consuming half the performance. This suggests that more accessible cards, like the RTX 5060, may struggle to maintain satisfactory performance in all games. Nvidia claims that the 5060 will have sufficient capacity in NBA 2K27, which still needs verification.
It is possible that DLSS 5 will continue to evolve in terms of performance. Regardless, with the market affected by the RAM crisis, graphics card prices are high, discouraging upgrades. This implies that the new algorithm will take time to become accessible to the average player. This evolution puts Nvidia back ahead of its rival AMD, which had taken the lead by introducing its own AI upscaling algorithm in August 2025.
DLSS 5 has the potential to drastically change the gaming industry. When compared to the recently released GTA VI video, which impressed with its visual richness, it is clear that such quality is the result of a massive investment by Rockstar Games in the project—although the budget is not disclosed, it is speculated to be over US$ 1 billion, involving more than five years of work by thousands of people.
With DLSS 5, this need for colossal investment decreases, as artificial intelligence takes on the task of generating photorealistic graphics. Consequently, high-budget AAA games can achieve a graphical standard similar to GTA VI, and smaller, independent (indie) games can also progress significantly.
Another potential benefit for the gaming industry lies in the possibility of resuming the production of titles with lower costs and reduced teams, something common in the 2010s. This could result in a higher number of releases, decreasing dependence on huge success formulas and opening up more space for creative freedom.