NVIDIA DLSS 5 Debuts in NBA 2K27 With Subtle Visual Gains and Heavy Power Draw
NBA 2K27 debuts NVIDIA DLSS 5; Engadget reports subtle visuals, lower frame rates and higher GPU power drain.
Testing NBA 2K27 on an RTX 5090 at 4K, Engadget said DLSS 5 reduced the frame rate from 240fps to 150fps. GPU power draw rose from about 400 watts to 525 watts once DLSS 5 was enabled. Engadget also relayed a HardOCP forum member’s report that their RTX 5090 drew over 600 watts while using DLSS 5 in the game and that the GPU’s power cable eventually melted.
The visual improvements, Engadget said, are modest. Player and crowd models gain extra texture in skin, especially around faces and arms, and shadows look slightly more realistic. The difference is easiest to notice in closeups; in normal overhead gameplay, DLSS 5 offers little obvious benefit. Without the technology, the game’s models still resemble plastic mannequins even with other graphics settings at maximum.
NVIDIA markets DLSS 5 as a way to use neural rendering models for lifelike graphics rather than relying purely on raw processing power. Engadget noted earlier leaks shot with DLSS 5 on Control and Final Fantasy VII Remake produced horrific imagery, a sign the mode can be pushed far beyond what original developers intended. The publication also wondered whether 2K Games deliberately left NBA 2K27’s models undercooked to make DLSS 5 appear more useful.
Engadget concluded that DLSS 5 remains far from essential and is even less noticeable than ray tracing. NVIDIA has responded to complaints by announcing that DLSS 5 will eventually be supported on last-generation RTX 4000 GPUs, rather than only RTX 5000 hardware. No other games currently have official DLSS 5 support. Capcom, Tencent and Ubisoft have committed to future titles, but those games have not been identified. In the meantime, NVIDIA GPU owners can try DLSS 5 by modding existing DLSS games such as Control and Cyberpunk 2077.
Editor’s Summary: NBA 2K27 is the first title to ship with NVIDIA’s DLSS 5. Engadget’s testing shows the feature provides only subtle graphical improvements while lowering frame rates and raising power draw substantially, leaving it likely to remain a niche option until further optimization and broader game support arrive.