This article is an independent summary of NVIDIA’s public announcements. It is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by NVIDIA Corporation.
At CES 2026 on January 6, NVIDIA officially unveiled DLSS 4.5, its latest AI-powered graphics technology.
This new version significantly boosts frame rates and improves image quality in supported games.
All RTX GPU owners can use the core features starting today via a driver update, while RTX 50 Series users will gain access to a major upgrade this spring: up to 6x AI frame generation.
Cleaner visuals, smoother motion
DLSS 4.5 uses a new AI model. It greatly reduces blurriness, ghosting, and flickering during fast action or complex lighting.
Text edges, character outlines, and reflective surfaces now appear more accurate and stable.
The technology is already available in over 400 games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Frame generation is no longer fixed—it adapts intelligently
Earlier versions of DLSS Frame Generation typically ran at a fixed rate (for example, always generating one extra frame).
DLSS 4.5 introduces Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, which automatically adjusts how many frames the AI creates based on the intensity of on-screen motion, your display’s refresh rate, and the game’s need for responsive input.
For example: during quiet dialogue or slow exploration, it can generate up to 5 AI frames (for a total of 6 output frames), dramatically increasing smoothness;
during intense combat or rapid camera turns, it reduces generation to prioritize responsiveness.
Note: 6x frame generation is exclusive to RTX 50 Series GPUs and will be enabled via the NVIDIA App in spring 2026.
Official performance gains are substantial
Lab tests using an RTX 5090 show: in Cyberpunk 2077 with full ray tracing enabled (4K Ultra settings), native performance is 48 FPS—DLSS 4.5 is expected to deliver around 280 FPS;
in Black Myth: Wukong with full path tracing (4K Highest), frame rates jump from 61 FPS to approximately 360 FPS.
This marks a turning point where 4K resolution + max settings + high refresh rates become truly playable—even with full ray tracing.
Who can use it—and how?
All RTX 20/30/40/50 Series users: DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution is available now.
Just update to Game Ready Driver 572.33 or newer and enable “DLSS 4.5” in-game.
RTX 50 Series users: 6x frame generation will be manually enabled through the NVIDIA App starting spring 2026.
What this means for game players
DLSS 4.5 delivers three clear benefits:
- Sharper visuals – AI reconstructs details more accurately, reducing visual artifacts;
- Higher frame rates – especially in demanding, ray-traced games, where performance can increase several-fold;
- Smarter performance – the system automatically balances smoothness and responsiveness, so you don’t need to tweak settings.
In short: You don’t need a new GPU to make your current games run faster and look better. And if you’re using an RTX 50 Series card, this spring you’ll unlock up to 6x AI frame generation—making true 4K, high-refresh, max-settings gameplay a reality.
Note:All information in this article is based on official NVIDIA technical materials released during CES 2026 (January 6, 2026).
About the Author
