DLSS 5 has leaked, giving modders free reign to test it in games

DLSS 5 has leaked in a very unexpected way, through a random .dll file bundled with the early access version of NBA 2K27. Nvidia first announced DLSS 5 earlier this year, pitching Neural Rendering as the next major step for its AI‑powered graphics tech. Now, thanks to this leak, PC players are getting their first look at how the technology behaves in real games.

Twitter user @renan_maniero spotted a new file named nvngx_dlssnr.dll inside the NBA 2K27 directory. Finding the file alone would be interesting enough, but modders have already begun dropping it into other games to see what happens.

One group managed to integrate the DLL into Control, exposing a set of Neural Rendering sliders that adjust things like intensity, style and auto skin masking, all features Nvidia previously said would be configurable. A short YouTube clip shows the mod in action, but enabling Neural Rendering does cut the frame rate down by quite a bit. However, it is worth noting that this isn't an official implementation of DLSS 5, and there is no telling what kind of driver optimisations Nvidia will put in place when the technology does become officially available, so any performance results seen right now could change.

Fans have also injected DLSS 5 into The Last of Us Part 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, offering differing results. So far, fan reactions to these early tests appear mixed, with some hating it, while others see it as a push closer to photorealism.

Obviously, the true test for DLSS 5 will be how game developers implement it themselves. Nvidia already said that developers would have a bunch of toggles to adjust how characters look, ensuring that DLSS 5 doesn't warp the artistic intent behind character designs. In its current modded form, fans are free to adjust these toggles themselves, so you are going to see some very different results, and some may max out sliders to intentionally make things look bad in hopes of going viral.

There is currently no word on when DLSS 5 will be available officially, or how many GPUs will support the technology. Like DLSS 4, it is likely to be limited to RTX 50 and up, but depending on performance, Nvidia may restrict it further to ensure only those who can run it comfortably have access.

KitGuru Says: DLSS 5 leaking through NBA 2K27 is a bizarre twist, but it gives us an early look at Neural Rendering in action. Do you think DLSS 5 will become a meaningful feature for PC games?

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