Bethesda says Nvidia's controversial new DLSS 5 AI filter "will all be under our artists' control, and totally optional for players"

Bethesda Game Studios has posted official comment on Nvidia's controversial announcement of DLSS 5, a new lighting filter that seems to apply a blatantly AI-generated filter over games.

Seemingly in attempt to cool down the temperature following DLSS 5's reveal, Bethesda issued a response to Digital Foundry's analysis, which was published the day of the announcement and largely praises the new tech.

"Appreciate your excitement and analysis of the new DLSS 5 lighting here," reads a reply from the official Bethesda Game Studios Twitter (X) account. While Digital Foundry seems by and large impressed by DLSS 5, Bethesda appears to be aware that the vast majority of comments on the media company's video are not positive.

"This is a very early look, and our art teams will be further adjusting the lighting and final effect to look the way we think works best for each game," reads Bethesda's reply. "This will all be under our artists' control, and totally optional for players."

Make no mistake, Bethesda is doing damage control here. Studio head Todd Howard was among several high-profile gaming executives gassing up the tech this morning, but it seems that no matter how many industry leaders tell the gaming community that AI-generated filters are a good thing, people still like games to stay faithful to artistic intent. It seems Bethesda's official comment is aimed squarely at that sticking point, although the exact involvement of studio artists, character designers, and other developers in DLSS 5 remains unclear.

The controversy here stems particularly from the use of these gen-AI filters over characters' faces. The announcement video showcases the effects of DLSS 5's "real-time neural rendering model" on games including Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, and Hogwarts Legacy, with the very first shot revealing a distinctly AI-looking Grace Ashcroft. While other character models, coincidentally including Grace's Resident Evil Requiem co-lead Leon Kennedy, aren't as conspicuous, I suspect DLSS 5 will continue to divide players so long as it threatens to change the look of characters so dramatically.

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