Ray Tracing and 4K are the most discussed features of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX graphics cards. The DLSS feature that these GPUs can use does not get as much excitement, but it is just as impressive – especially given the magic it can work on frame rates for those playing on low and mid-range hardware.
Here’s a quick look at what DLSS is, how it works and what games it supports.
What is DLSS?
DLSS, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, is a machine learning-based feature used by the AI Tensor Cores in Nvidia’s RTX 20 and 30 Series graphics cards. If DLSS is enabled, you can render graphics games at a lower resolution, then use AI to artificially upgrade the footage and increase it to a higher resolution without taking a performance hit. To achieve this, Nvidia ‘trained’ its DLSS algorithm with a supercomputer built specifically for graphics versioning.
For example, instead of rendering a game in 4K, DLSS renders the game at 1440p, then the machine learning algorithms work. The result is an image that looks almost identical to the original 4K resolution, but runs as if it were rendered at 1440p, which can increase your frame rate in the game and leave behind many system resources for radiation detection and other high-end graphics settings.
DLSS is a game changer; it lets even Nvidia’s weakest RTX cards, such as the RTX 2060, run at a convincing (and playable) 4K resolution, although the hardware is not normally capable of delivering such an output. It’s a shame that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X do not support DLSS; sure, they can hold 4K and ray traces, but if you turn on these settings, it often results in your frame rate, which allows players to choose between graphical fidelity or constant performance. PC players with a DLSS compatible system do not have to choose.
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However, DLSS is not perfect; the feature is known to cause vague textures and loss of detail. The most recent version, DLSS 2.0, fix many of these issues and increase the resolution enhancement to 4x (1080p to 4K), you can experience and dim artifacts, especially in finer detail. But because the algorithm of DLSS 2.0 is constantly updated, the feature will only get better over time.
What games does DLSS support?
DLSS’s other limitation is its availability; it’s only in select number games, at least for now. Originally, Nvidia had to train DLSS per game, but the DLSS 2.0 algorithm can apply its enhancements to any game that supports the feature and makes it easier for developers to implement. Here is a list of games supported by DLSS, plus a list of titles that are confirmed to support DLSS in the future:
DLSS-supported games:
- National anthem
- Battlefield V
- Clear memory
- Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Control
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Death Stranding
- Deliver Us The Moon
- F1 2020
- Final Fantasy XV
- Fortnite
- Ghostrunner
- Iron Conflict
- Justice
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Mechwarrior V: mercenaries
- Metro exit
- Minecraft
- Monster Hunter: World
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Watch Dogs Legion
- Wolfenstein Youngblood
Upcoming games with DLSS support:
- In the midst of evil
- Atomic Heart
- Border
- Call Of Duty: Warzone
- Edge Of Eternity
- FIST: Forged in shadow torch
- Five nights at Freddy’s security breach
- JX3
- Mortal shell
- Mount & Blade II Bannerlord
- Outdoors
- Ready or not (early access start)
- Scavengers
- The medium
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Xuan-Yuan Sword VII