NBA 2K27 is already one of the most visually impressive sports games, but a new video showcasing NVIDIA's DLSS 5 takes its presentation to another level. The footage offers a fascinating look at what neural rendering can do
in a basketball game, with significantly more realistic player models,
skin, clothing, lighting, and materials. The result is a presentation
that, in some scenes, gets surprisingly close to real-life broadcast
footage.
A huge visual upgrade
DLSS 5 goes beyond traditional image upscaling. NVIDIA's neural rendering technology can reconstruct and enhance visual elements using AI, potentially allowing developers to achieve a level of detail that would otherwise be extremely expensive to render. In NBA 2K27, the difference is particularly noticeable on player faces and skin. Details such as facial features, skin texture, hair and clothing appear more defined, while lighting and reflections create a considerably more realistic image. The combination is impressive enough to make some scenes look less like a video game and more like an actual NBA broadcast.
There are still some imperfections
However, the technology is not perfect. Some facial animations and movements can produce strange results, and certain artifacts become more noticeable when players are moving quickly. These limitations are not particularly surprising considering that DLSS 5 is still an emerging technology. The important point is the potential it demonstrates.
DLSS 5 comes to NBA 2K27 through a mod
It's important to clarify that this is not an official NVIDIA or 2K implementation. The demonstration was made possible through a community mod that enables the experimental DLSS 5 technology in NBA 2K27. The modding scene has been experimenting with DLSS 5 after developers and modders discovered ways to bring the technology to games that do not officially support it, allowing users to get an early look at what NVIDIA's neural rendering technology could achieve in different titles.
Could this be the future of sports games?
Sports games could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of neural rendering. Games such as NBA 2K rely heavily on realistic faces, skin, hair, uniforms and stadium lighting, making them an ideal showcase for technologies like DLSS 5. If NVIDIA and developers can continue improving image stability and eliminate the remaining artifacts, neural rendering could eventually become a major part of the visual evolution of sports games.