At CES 2026, Nvidia unveiled DLSS 4.5, the latest evolution of its AI-powered upscaling technology that promises to fundamentally change what's possible in PC gaming. The headline feature—Dynamic Multi Frame Generation capable of producing up to six AI-generated frames for every traditionally rendered frame—could enable 4K path-traced gaming at a stable 240Hz, a performance target that seemed like science fiction just two years ago.

The Technical Breakthrough

DLSS 4.5 represents a comprehensive upgrade to Nvidia's upscaling suite. The new 2nd generation transformer model for Super Resolution delivers what Nvidia claims is "state-of-the-art image quality" across more than 400 supported games and applications.

But the real showstopper is Dynamic 6x Frame Generation. Unlike previous versions that generated a fixed number of frames, the new system intelligently adapts to match your monitor's refresh rate. Playing on a 60Hz display? The system generates fewer frames. Gaming on a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor? DLSS 4.5 scales up accordingly.

"This could make it possible for a GPU to run a fully path-traced game in 4K at a stable 240Hz—performance levels that would require hardware that doesn't exist at any price without AI assistance."

— Nvidia GeForce Announcement

What's New in 4.5

The update includes several key improvements:

  • 2nd Gen Transformer Super Resolution: Reduced ghosting and improved anti-aliasing, particularly in fast-moving scenes
  • Dynamic 6x Multi Frame Generation: Adaptive frame generation that scales to your display's capabilities
  • Broader Compatibility: Super Resolution upgrades available for all RTX GPUs (20, 30, 40, and 50 series)
  • Improved Quality: Better handling of fine details, hair, foliage, and particle effects

The Availability Split

There's a catch for existing RTX owners: while DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution is available now for all RTX graphics cards with the latest GeForce driver, Dynamic 6x Frame Generation will launch in spring 2026 as an RTX 50 series exclusive feature.

This means RTX 40 series owners will benefit from improved upscaling quality but won't access the most headline-grabbing capability until Nvidia (presumably) extends support to older hardware—if it ever does.

The 'Fake Frames' Debate

Frame generation technology has faced criticism from purists who argue that AI-generated frames aren't "real" and can introduce latency or visual artifacts. Nvidia directly addressed these concerns at CES, emphasizing improvements to the transformer model specifically designed to reduce ghosting—the trailing artifacts that have plagued earlier frame generation implementations.

The company also highlighted that DLSS 4.5's dynamic system can reduce frame generation when it detects scenarios where artifacts would be more noticeable, prioritizing quality over raw frame counts.

Game Support

DLSS 4 already supports over 250 games, and CES 2026 brought announcements of additional titles receiving RTX integrations:

  • 007 First Light: Full path tracing with DLSS support
  • Phantom Blade Zero: RTX ray tracing and DLSS
  • PRAGMATA: Path tracing enabled
  • Resident Evil Requiem: RTX integration announced

Nvidia also announced an RTX Remix update coming later this month that adds a logic system enabling modders to trigger dynamic graphics effects throughout classic games—extending ray tracing to titles never designed for modern hardware.

Beyond Gaming: GeForce NOW

The DLSS improvements extend to Nvidia's cloud gaming service, GeForce NOW. At CES, the company announced expanded access to RTX 5080-class performance through the service, meaning gamers without cutting-edge local hardware can still benefit from DLSS 4.5's capabilities through streaming.

The Competitive Landscape

AMD's FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) and Intel's XeSS continue to evolve, but Nvidia's multi-year head start in AI-powered upscaling has created a significant technology gap. DLSS 4.5's dynamic frame generation represents capabilities that competitors haven't yet matched.

This technological advantage translates to market power. The RTX 50 series exclusive features create strong incentive for upgrading, while the broad Super Resolution support maintains goodwill among existing RTX owners.

What This Means for Gamers

For PC gamers, DLSS 4.5 changes the performance calculus:

  • High-refresh gaming: 240Hz+ gaming becomes accessible for graphically intensive titles
  • Ray tracing viability: Path-traced games that were barely playable become smooth experiences
  • Longevity: Existing hardware gains new life through software improvements
  • Upgrade justification: RTX 50 series buyers gain meaningful exclusive features

The Bigger Picture

DLSS 4.5 exemplifies how AI is reshaping consumer technology. What once required brute-force hardware advances now comes through software intelligence. A game that might need a theoretical RTX 6090 to run natively at 4K/240Hz becomes achievable on current-generation hardware through AI assistance.

For investors, Nvidia's continued DLSS innovation reinforces the company's competitive moat in gaming—even as headlines focus on data center AI. The gaming division remains core to Nvidia's brand and provides the consumer-facing technology that keeps the GeForce name synonymous with PC gaming performance.

For gamers, the message is simpler: the frames-per-second ceiling just got a lot higher, and the AI is only getting smarter.