Early leak of NVIDIA's DLSS 5 has an uncanny valley problem

A leaked pre-release build of NVIDIA's DLSS 5 is being tested by users in multiple games, and early results show the upscaling technology can alter character faces in ways that look unsettlingly realistic yet off, according to clips circulating online. The unfinished software was extracted from an early-access PC version of NBA 2K27 and has been grafted onto titles like Control and Skyrim. Enthusiasts have posted videos and screenshots showing the effects, which range from aging a character to making low-polygon models appear like 3D scans of real people.

The new neural rendering model in DLSS 5 marks a shift from simply reconstructing sharper images, as NVIDIA describes it, to infusing pixels with photorealistic lighting and materials. In practice, the results lean toward the uncanny valley rather than a convincing next-gen look. One example features Jesse Faden from Control, a character meant to be roughly 28, who appears middle-aged after the DLSS 5 treatment. The AI seems to derive the older face from the original model, but the outcome simultaneously looks more real and more fake.

Skyrim, a game frequently used for such experiments, shows lower-poly characters with faces that resemble scanned real people pasted onto aging game models. The underlying character models and animations remain unchanged, creating a mismatch between the realistic faces and stiff movements. This disconnect amplifies the eerie effect, as characters stare blankly with motions that do not match their newly detailed appearance.

Performance also takes a hit with this leaked build. In Control on an RTX 5070 Ti, enabling Neural Rendering reportedly dropped the frame rate from 71 fps to 35 fps at 4K resolution. While a developer could choose to implement the feature and players might enjoy it, the combination of odd visuals and a major performance cost raises questions about NVIDIA’s focus. The company, now prioritizing AI, may be losing touch with the gaming audience that helped it grow, the source suggests.

The official version of DLSS 5 is scheduled to launch this fall. Once developers release approved implementations, it remains to be seen whether intentionally integrated uses of the final technology will look and feel more natural than these early, unofficial tests. For now, the leaked build offers a glimpse of what the technology can do, but the results are far from polished.

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