Early Starfield tests with DLSS 5 from GTC 2026 provide a glimpse at how Bethesda may integrate the tech into future updates.
NVIDIA recently unveiled DLSS 5, set to hit platforms later this year. The technology uses real-time neural rendering to generate photorealistic lighting and visuals. After that reveal, Todd Howard of Bethesda said the company is excited to work with the new technology and bring it to Starfield and other future titles.
New footage has now surfaced of the technology being applied to Starfield.
UPDATE: Early NVIDIA DLSS 5 Mod Applied to Other Games Draws Backlash From Players
12 Minutes of NVIDIA DLSS 5 Being Applied to Bethesda’s Starfield
New footage from Plano Plays Games on YouTube shows nearly 12 minutes of the technology in use in the Bethesda game at GTC 2026. The footage highlights different in-game interactions and switches between turning the technology on and off. When toggled on, the technology adds noticeable new lighting effects and small enhancements.
In the video, you hear people boast about the technology and how easy it will be for developers to transition from DLSS 4 to it. They also claim the technology determines where lighting reflections and shadows come from based on the pixels on screen.
Upon its initial reveal, the technology was panned for appearing like an AI video filter. This new footage doesn’t necessarily alleviate that criticism, but it is a unique look at a potentially generation-defining technology in a very early stage. At this link, you can read what the NVIDIA CEO has to say about the early criticisms of DLSS5.
Insider Gaming will continue to provide any updates regarding this new technology.
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I'm Robert DeFelice. I spent years covering pro-wrestling industry for outlets such as Fightful. After years in wrestling journalism, I’ve transitioned to video games, another passion of mine.
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I think it’s important to point out that these tech demos are running on fuel RTX 5090’s. Nvidia hopes to streamline it to work on one GPU one day, it’s far from a practical technology. It’d be easier just to make the game look like that in the first place.
No, it’s not a slop filter added in post. It’s a slop filter added DURING processing!
Oh, that’s better then…
The performance is awful
Her eyes are looking different ways, WTF?!?