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A hot topic: Upscaling is a controversial topic since Nvidia introduced DLSS and FSR. Some users view the functionality as a crutch to play unoptimized video games. Nvidia released a data point that indicated that most RTX GPU users are activating DLSS. This indicates that upscaling is now the norm.
Nvidia gave a long presentation at CES2025, outlining its DLSS neural render technology’s past and future. One slide contained a data point stating that over 80 percent users of RTX 20, 30 and 40 series graphics card use DLSS in games, proving the company’s extensive AI use in video game rendering.
While the slide does not specify how Nvidia collected the data, if accurate, it suggests that gamers have overwhelmingly embraced machine learning-based upscaling. The presentation also highlighted that over 500 games and 15 of 2024’s top 20 titles support DLSS. However, it did not clarify whether most RTX 40 series owners specifically use frame generation, which is part of the DLSS suite but is a separate step than upscaling.
Upscaling technologies like DLSS, FSR, and XeSS render games below a display’s native resolution and use advanced techniques to reconstruct the missing pixels, significantly boosting performance. Analyses from TechSpot and other outlets demonstrate that the increased frame rates often far outweigh the minor reductions in image quality. Nvidia’s newly revealed DLSS 4 aims to minimize these visual flaws even further by using GenAI transformer models.
However, as games like Remnant II, Alan Wake II, and Monster Hunter Wilds now list upscaling as part of their system requirements, debate persists over whether the visual trade-offs are justified.
Nvidia also promotes frame generation, which interpolates AI generated frames between traditionally rendered ones, without reducing latency. This is a key feature for its RTX series cards.
Nvidia also outlined future plans in its CES presentation for neural rendering. This will integrate AI-assisted technologies into internal rendering pipelines, instead of simply resampling a final rendered frame. In the future, DLSS will allow games to process more complex materials, facial expressions and hair with minimal performance costs.
Nvidia argues that, as performance gains in conventional rendering and shrinkage of semiconductor dies slow down and visual detail and frame rate increases, technologies such as neural rendering and frame creation will become more important. These technologies are able to meet the computational demands of 4K and ray-tracing.
AMD’s and Intel’s efforts to catch up with Nvidia rather than providing alternative solutions further validates the growing importance AI rendering. Team Red also unveiled FSR 4 scaling at CES. This mimics Nvidia’s machine learning approach, and achieves noticeably superior results than FSR 3.
Intel also introduced new GPUs late last year that support frame generation with XeSS 2. The shift to AI-assisted graphic design may require new approaches in technical analysis and benchmarking.
