Nvidia to Extend DLSS 5 to RTX 40 GPUs, but Keeps Developer Control
Nvidia has announced that its DLSS 5 AI rendering technology will officially support RTX 40-series graphics cards, following an initial rollout on RTX 50 GPUs. The company says it will first optimize performance for the newer cards before expanding support. Meanwhile, modders have already created unofficial ports of the technology, though Nvidia has not confirmed whether all previously announced DLSS 5 games will retain the feature.
Nvidia's official rollout prioritizes RTX 50 optimization, with RTX 40 support only after "model updates" later this fall. The company declined to confirm whether all previously announced DLSS 5 titles will retain the feature, leaving uncertainty for developers and players. Unofficial mods already enabled DLSS 5 on RTX 30 and 20 cards, though with severe performance issues and crashes. Nvidia also clarified that gamers receive only a simple on/off toggle, while developers retain granular sliders for model selection, intensity, and masking—though developers may optionally expose these controls in their own menus. The technology's automatic object recognition and engine-level masking simplify integration, with native Unreal Engine 5 support and SDKs available.
This decision could widen DLSS 5's reach to millions of RTX 40 owners, potentially improving visual fidelity and performance in demanding games. However, the lack of user-facing controls may frustrate enthusiasts who expect modder-style customization, possibly driving further unofficial ports. Developers could face pressure to adopt the tech, but uncertainty about game support may slow adoption. Society may see a divide between those with newer hardware and those relying on older GPUs, while Nvidia's cautious rollout could shape how AI-driven rendering is perceived as a standard feature rather than an experimental tool.