Capcom and Ubisoft Developers Reportedly Unaware of Nvidia DLSS 5 Before Public Reveal
Developers at major gaming studios Capcom and Ubisoft were apparently unaware of their companies' support for Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology until it was publicly unveiled, according to a new report. This revelation comes as controversy continues to swirl around Nvidia's latest AI upscaling technology, which uses generative artificial intelligence to alter game visuals.
The DLSS 5 Controversy
Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology has become a focal point in the ongoing conversation about generative AI in gaming. The technology, showcased earlier this week, has drawn criticism from both fans and developers for how it alters character faces to the point of being nearly unrecognizable and changes lighting to make it less realistic. These concerns are based on comparison shots using popular games including Resident Evil Requiem and Starfield.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has responded bullishly to the criticism, calling it 'completely wrong' and insisting that DLSS 5 'doesn't change the artistic control' of developers. However, the latest report suggests a significant disconnect between corporate announcements and development teams.
Developers Left in the Dark
According to Insider Gaming, DLSS 5 was revealed to developers at Capcom and Ubisoft at the same time as the general public. 'We found out at the same time as the public,' one unnamed Ubisoft developer told the outlet. The original announcement of DLSS 5 was supported by several major companies including:
- Bethesda
- Capcom
- Hotta Studio
- NetEase
- NCSOFT
- S-Game
- Tencent
- Ubisoft
- Warner Bros. Games
It's claimed that developers at Capcom were particularly shocked by their studio's involvement, given the company's historical 'anti-AI' stance with projects like Resident Evil Requiem. Some industry observers now fear this might represent a significant change in attitude among higher-ups at these development studios.
Executive Support Versus Developer Reality
Despite the apparent lack of consultation with development teams, Nvidia secured public support from high-level executives. In the original announcement, Capcom's executive producer and corporate officer Jun Takeuchi described DLSS 5 as 'another important step in pushing visual fidelity forward, helping players become even more immersed in the world of Resident Evil.'
Similarly, Charlie Guillemot, co-CEO of new Ubisoft subsidiary Vantage Studios, stated: 'Immersion is about making the world feel real. DLSS 5 is a real step towards that goal. The way it renders lighting, materials, and characters changes what we can promise to players. On Assassin's Creed Shadows, it's letting us build the kind of worlds we've always wanted to.'
However, this executive support does little to address concerns that the actual development teams at Capcom and Ubisoft—whose work DLSS 5 directly affects—were not consulted beforehand about the technology's implementation.
Industry Backlash and Consequences
The backlash against DLSS 5 appears to have taken many within the gaming industry by surprise. Digital Foundry founder Richard Leadbetter, who posted positive impressions about the technology earlier in the week, has since acknowledged in a new video that they 'don't think we did a good enough job on the day,' saying they should have 'taken more time with the material' before posting their initial analysis.
The intensity of the reaction has been significant, with Leadbetter revealing that the blowback even led to death threats against his team, which he described as 'crossing the line' and 'totally unacceptable.'
GameCentral has reached out to both Ubisoft and Capcom for comment on these latest developments. The situation highlights the growing tensions between rapid technological advancement, corporate decision-making, and the creative processes of game development teams.
