Bethesda has responded to backlash over Nvidia's newly revealed DLSS 5 AI upscaling technology, assuring players that its implementation in Starfield will be totally optional and under artists' control. The technology, showcased with Starfield and Resident Evil Requiem, drew widespread criticism for its visual alterations. Bethesda stated it is an early look with further adjustments planned.
Nvidia unveiled DLSS 5, described as an “AI-powered breakthrough in visual fidelity for games,” on March 16, 2026, according to reports from March 17. The technology includes an optional upscaling filter that alters character faces and lighting, such as enlarging lips and adding makeup to Resident Evil Requiem's Grace Ashcroft, and affecting Starfield visuals and Resident Evil Requiem's Leon S. Kennedy. Online reactions were largely negative, with comments like “Nah, fuck your excitement and fuck this slop” and “This is Nvidia taking a dump all over games as an art form. Games are art. This isn't.” Memes comparing before-and-after effects proliferated on social media. Bethesda Game Studios replied to Digital Foundry's analysis on X, stating: “Appreciate your excitement and analysis of the new DLSS 5 lighting here. This is 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.” Todd Howard called the effect on Starfield “amazing.” Nvidia echoed this in its YouTube comments, noting developers have “full, detailed artistic control over DLSS 5’s effects” via SDK features like intensity, color grading, and masking. The firm positions DLSS 5 as advancing graphics, with Jensen Huang claiming it reinvents computer graphics 25 years after programmable shaders.
