Players react with overwhelming disgust to DLSS 5’s generative AI glow-ups

Many of the reactions have centered on how DLSS 5 turns in-game faces into overly detailed, uncanny valley variations of the unique fashions. Reactions have in contrast the impact to air-brushed pornography, “yassified, looks-maxed freaks,” or those uncanny, unavoidable Evony ads. Others have famous how DLSS 5 appears to mangle the intended art direction by dampening shadows in favor of a homogenized look.

Some sport builders have leapt on the “artistic intent” angle, too. Thomas Was Alone developer Mike Bithell added that the know-how appears designed “for when you absolutely, positively, don’t want any art direction in your gaming experience.” And Gunfire Games Senior Concept Artist Jeff Talbot said that “in every shot the art direction was taken away for the senseless addition of ‘details.’ Each DLSS 5 shot looked worse and had less character than the original. This is just a garbage AI Filter.”

New Blood Interactive founder and CEO Dave Oshry added that DLSS 5’s “AI dogshit is actually depressing” and lamented that future generations “won’t even know this looks ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ because to them it’ll be normal.”

Damage management

By manner of harm management, Nvidia took to the comments (which are filled with thousands of negative takes) on its YouTube reveal trailer to emphasize that DLSS 5 “is not a filter” and that “game developers have full, detailed artistic control over DLSS 5’s effects to ensure they maintain their game’s unique aesthetic.” That contains the power to tweak depth and shade grading or flip the masking off solely in “places where the effect shouldn’t be applied.”

DLSS 5 OFF // DLSS 5 ON

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— Tuba Zef (@tubazef.com) March 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM

Bethesda, one of many many main publishers Nvidia named as an early DLSS 5 companion, piped in on social media to say that these movies are “a very early look, and our art teams will be further adjusting the lighting and final effect to look the way we think works best for each game. This will all be under our artists’ control, and totally optional for players.”

From a public picture perspective, although, the injury might already be finished. DLSS 5 has quickly become a meme format in its own right, with Internet commenters utilizing “DLSS 5 On” as visual shorthand for “overly cleaned up” or “mangled beyond recognition.” We’re unsure the way you come again from that type of prompt infamy, however Nvidia can have till the autumn to seek out out.