Nvidia has recently unveiled DLSS 3.5, the latest version of its GPU tool that aims to revolutionize ray tracing in PC games. With DLSS 3.5, Nvidia focuses on improving lighting effects in games using the power of artificial intelligence (AI). This new technology is set to make its debut with two highly anticipated games, Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which are scheduled to release this fall.
Announced at Gamescom 2023, Nvidia introduced DLSS 3.5 by addressing a common problem with ray tracing—the use of manually tuned denoisers by developers, which can result in lighting inaccuracies and less realistic effects. Nvidia’s solution to this problem is Ray Reconstruction, a new element of DLSS that replaces hand-tuned denoisers with AI-generated pixels. By doing so, DLSS 3.5 aims to deliver upscaled lighting effects that retain all the necessary information, including color data, while eliminating issues like ghosting. This improvement will be noticeable to gamers who frequently use ray tracing effects in the latest games.
DLSS 3.5’s Ray Reconstruction capabilities are not limited to specific RTX graphics cards. It will work with any RTX graphics card, making it accessible to a wider audience. However, it is important to note that full ray tracing can be demanding, and entry-level RTX 4000 GPUs may require a significant amount of processing power to utilize the new features. While DLSS 3.5 can theoretically be used with an RTX 2060, performance limitations may still be a concern.
The inclusion of DLSS 3.5 in Alan Wake 2 is particularly exciting for fans of the game. According to Tatu Aalto, Remedy Entertainment’s lead graphics programmer, DLSS 3.5 renders our fully ray-traced world more beautifully than ever before, bringing you deeper into the story of Alan Wake 2. This statement implies that DLSS 3.5 will greatly enhance the visual experience of the game for those who enjoy PC ray tracing.
On the other hand, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty players are also in for a treat, as Nvidia confirms that Ray Reconstruction will be implemented in the game this September. Gamers who have upgraded their GPUs to RTX 4080 or 4090 can expect an even better visual experience when revisiting the highly popular RPG.
DLSS 3.5 will not only be available in Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty but also in Portal with RTX. The implementation of DLSS 3.5 lies in the hands of developers, and it remains to be seen how many games in the Steam library will embrace this GPU technology.
Nvidia’s DLSS 3.5 is set to enhance lighting effects in PC games through the power of AI. With Ray Reconstruction, lighting inaccuracies will be minimized, resulting in a more immersive gaming experience. Whether playing Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, or other games that adopt this technology, PC gamers can look forward to better lighting effects that are visually stunning and realistic.
