An experimental build of Nvidia's upcoming DLSS 5 technology has leaked online, allowing modders to integrate its generative AI upscaling features into existing games. The results, as seen in titles like Remedy Entertainment's Control and Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, have been widely described as unsettling, transforming beloved characters into distorted, uncanny versions of themselves.

Nvidia initially unveiled DLSS 5 in March, touting a new generative AI upscaling mode that was tentatively slated for a fall 2026 release. The technology drew immediate criticism for its potential to drastically alter game aesthetics. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, however, defended the feature, stating that critics were "completely wrong" and emphasizing the "artistic control" DLSS 5 offers, with partners like Capcom and Bethesda reportedly on board.

The leaked build, identified as version 310.8.0.0 of the "nvngx_dlssnr.dll" library, appeared online through an early access build of NBA 2K27. Shortly after, the RenoDX modding community successfully implemented DLSS 5 into Control, leading to character models that one report described as resembling "old-aged pensioners."

Further experimentation by modders has brought the DLSS 5 filter to other titles, including Skyrim and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. While the Skyrim modifications resulted in characters with a "dead-behind-the-eyes look," the altered version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Cloud Strife was likened to Scarlett Johansson leading a post-apocalyptic resistance.

Beyond the visual transformations, early reports from the RenoDX Discord server indicate significant performance drawbacks. One test reportedly resulted in an "almost 50 percent performance loss," a substantial hit for any system.

It is important to note that this is an unfinished, leaked version of DLSS 5. Modders are forcing its integration into games that do not yet have official support, meaning the final release may differ. However, with DLSS 5's projected fall 2026 release potentially less than a month away—especially given its inclusion in the NBA 2K27 early access build for the game's September 4 worldwide release—these leaked results offer a glimpse, however unpolished, into the technology's capabilities and potential reception.