A YouTuber analyzed the visual anomalies criticized in Nvidia’s DLSS 5 frame by frame and concluded that almost all of them were bugs already present in the original games, even if the technology still has some flaws to correct.
Since the presentation of DLSS 5 by Nvidia at GTC 2026, the new image reconstruction technology has been the subject of criticism regarding the appearance of “geometric anomalies”. Several observers accused artificial intelligence of creating visual errors by trying to improve graphics. However, a technical analysis published by content creator WhizzDumbPlayz qualifies these conclusions.
By examining the sequences frame by frame, the videographer demonstrates that the majority of the visual defects pointed out were in reality already present in the original versions of the games used for the demonstration.
Engine bugs rather than AI errors
The study focuses first on Starfield. During a dialogue scene, users noted deformations in the nostrils and hair of a character. WhizzDumbPlayz shows that these mesh and light interaction issues are intrinsic to Bethesda’s Creation Engine. DLSS 5 would only slightly accentuate existing bugs. In addition, certain movement artifacts would be linked to the technology of Frame Generation rather than DLSS 5 itself.
The observation is similar for Oblivion Remastered. A striking anomaly on the eyelids of one character (Heinrich Oaken-Hull), giving the impression of a double pair of eyes, also appears when DLSS 5 is disabled. It would therefore be a classic engine bug and not an “hallucination” of the AI.
Methodological errors in comparisons
The case of Resident Evil Requiem is undoubtedly the most documented. The image of Grace Ashcroft went viral to illustrate the supposed deviations of DLSS 5. The analysis, however, reveals that the comparative screenshots were not taken from the same angle. Camera lag and a different facial animation at the time of capture would explain the perceived distortions, rather than a software fault from Nvidia.
Concerning EA Sports FCphysics issues on jerseys and blurring around the ball during strikes are also identified in the base game, without activating scaling technologies.
Areas for improvement remain
If the analysis exonerates DLSS 5 for a large part of the geometric anomalies, it nevertheless highlights two real weaknesses. The content creator notes the appearance of a “halo” effect around the heads of certain characters in the current version of the technology. Furthermore, in Oblivion Remasteredsome shadows occasionally disappear when directional lighting is changed by image processing.
NVIDIA currently finds itself in a delicate position faced with the reluctance of part of the community of developers and modders. The correction of these proven defects before the final launch will be decisive for the adoption of this new iteration of DLSS.
