Nvidia has unveiled the next step in its DLSS line at CES 2026: DLSS 4.5, a new version of the AI upscaler designed to deliver 4K path traced gaming at 240 Hz. Nvidia positions the update as a combination of a second generation transformer model, a broader Multi Frame Generation MFG feature set that can interpolate up to 6x frames between rendered frames, and an optical flow AI model to stabilize temporal output and reduce artifacts. The company also notes that DLSS 4.5 is not limited to the RTX 50 series; any RTX GPU can access the updated model through the Nvidia App using the DLSS Override feature, potentially broadening its reach across existing hardware.
Behind the claims lies Nvidia's push to improve visual quality alongside performance targets. The transformer based upscaling uses five times more compute than the previous CNN based approach, with greater contextual awareness and smarter pixel sampling. Nvidia executives describe how attention mechanisms allow the model to focus on challenging parts of the image, potentially delivering smoother edges and fewer ghosting artifacts as frame generation increases. The company states it has expanded its training data to cover more games and scenarios, retraining the model to minimize failures such as ghosting, flickering or blurriness. Brian Catanzaro, Nvidia VP of applied deep learning research, describes a cycle of collecting failure cases, augmenting the training dataset, retraining, and testing across hundreds of games to improve DLSS performance. The result, according to Nvidia, is a more robust upscaler that can better preserve image fidelity even as generation factors rise.
From a practical standpoint, the update remains tied to hardware capability. Nvidia confirms that you will need a capable RTX GPU to sustain a 60 fps baseline in a path traced title to take advantage of the higher multiframe generation levels. In practice, that means higher end SKUs from the RTX Blackwell era or equivalent; even with high MFG counts, a weak input frame rate or high system latency can undermine the perceived benefit. The writer notes from extensive RTX Blackwell testing that frame generation relies on a healthy input frame rate and end to end latency for the feature to feel responsive; otherwise, the generation can introduce noticeable lag or inconsistencies in motion. In other words, Dynamic MFG cannot compensate for poor base rendering performance.
Among the new tools is Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, which ties MFG levels to the monitor refresh using the Nvidia App DLSS Override. When enabled, the feature can automatically adjust the amount of frame generation to hit a target frame rate or refresh ceiling, a practical shortcut for players who want set and forget smoothness. Nvidia demonstrates a scenario with the RTX 5090 delivering around 246 fps at 4K with path tracing and 6x MFG, all while keeping latency around the mid 50s milliseconds. The implication is not that every game will hit those numbers, but the promise of consistently higher frame rates with controlled latency is a core selling point of the DLSS 4.5 stack. The question remains how well this translates across diverse titles and engine implementations once the feature lands in the wild.
Crucially, Nvidia frames DLSS 4.5 as broadly accessible. The 4.5 Super Resolution model is not exclusive to the newest RTX 50 series, and Nvidia estimates that hundreds of titles will support the updated upscaler at launch through the DLSS Override mechanism, with the official support list expected to expand rapidly. In addition to the computation model upgrades, upstream training and the new optical flow technique, the broad availability could help Nvidia the AI assisted rasterization argument land with more gamers who already own RTX hardware. Still, the effectiveness of Dynamic MFG will be judged in real world gameplay, where latency, input responsiveness and game specific rendering pipelines will shape the experience. The public reception will determine whether this is a practical feature for wide adoption or a sophisticated demonstration that remains niche to enthusiasts with high end rigs.
