Ray tracing and 4K are the most talked about features of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX graphics cards. The DLSS feature these GPUs can use doesn’t cause as much of a stir, but it’s just as impressive – especially given the magic that can be used to achieve frame rates for those who play on low and medium range hardware.
Here’s a quick look at what DLSS is, how it works, and which games support it.
What is DLSS?
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is a machine learning-based feature that uses the AI tensor cores in Nvidia’s RTX 20 and 30 series graphics cards. When DLSS is enabled, your GPU renders in-game graphics at a lower resolution and uses AI to artificially enlarge and improve the graphics to a higher resolution without affecting performance. To achieve this, Nvidia “trained” its DLSS algorithm with a supercomputer that was specially developed for graphic rendering.
For example, instead of rendering a game at 4K, DLSS will render the game at 1440p and then the machine learning algorithms will work. The result is an image that looks almost identical to the native 4K resolution, but acts as if it was rendered at 1440p. This can increase the in-game frame rate and leave a lot of system resources devoted to ray tracing and other high-end graphics settings.
DLSS is a game changer. Even the weakest RTX cards from Nvidia, like the RTX 2060, can be operated with a convincing (and playable) 4K resolution, although the hardware is usually not capable of such output. It’s a shame the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X don’t support DLSS. Sure, they may be capable of 4K and ray tracing. However, if you enable these settings, your frame rate will often degrade, allowing gamers to choose between graphical fidelity and consistent performance. PC players with a DLSS-compatible system do not have to choose.
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However, DLSS is not perfect; It is known that this feature causes fuzzy textures and loss of detail. While the final iteration, DLSS 2.0, fixes many of these problems If you increase the resolution to 4x (1080p to 4K), some artifacts and blurring can occur, especially with finer details. However, as the DLSS 2.0 algorithm is constantly updated, the function will get better and better over time.
Which games support DLSS?
The other limitation of DLSS is availability. At least for now, only in games with selected numbers. Originally, Nvidia had to train DLSS per game, but the DLSS 2.0 algorithm can apply its improvements to any game that supports this feature and makes it easier for developers to implement. Here is the list of DLSS supported games, as well as a list of the titles that are confirmed to have DLSS support in the future:
DLSS supported games:
- anthem
- Battlefield V
- Light storage
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- control
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Death stranding
- Save us the moon
- F1 2020
- Final Fantasy XV
- Fourteen days
- Ghost runner
- Iron conflict
- justice
- Marvel’s Avenger
- Mechwarrior V: mercenaries
- Metro Exodus
- Minecraft
- Monster Hunter: world
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Watch Dogs Legion
- Wolfenstein young blood
Upcoming games with DLSS support:
- In the midst of evil
- Atomic heart
- border
- Call of Duty: War Zone
- Edge of eternity
- Faust: Forged in a shadow torch
- Five nights at Freddy’s security breach
- JX3
- Mortal shell
- Mount & Blade II Bannerlord
- Outrider
- Ready or not (early access)
- scavenger
- The medium
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Xuan Yuan Sword VII
