NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction Refines Light and Shadows
NVIDIA is updating its Ray Reconstruction technology with a second-generation Transformer model as part of DLSS 4.5, scheduled to roll out on GeForce RTX GPUs from the 20 series through the 50 series in August 2026. The new model, introduced alongside the gamescom 2026 announcements, is trained on a larger dataset and uses 35% more computational power while processing 20% more parameters. It gives developers finer control over temporal accumulation, which determines how much information from past frames is kept. Automaton's hands-on testing with a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti found that afterimages from path-traced light sources, like the lasers in Capcom's PRAGMATA, now disappear more quickly and naturally. Game Spark, using a GeForce RTX 5090, verified similar results in PRAGMATA and Biohazard Requiem, noting clearer raindrop outlines and more stable reflections on glass surfaces. NVIDIA materials state the performance impact is nearly negligible on RTX 40/50 series, though slight differences may occur on 20/30 series due to architectural constraints. The update also works with RTX Remix and arrives in the NVIDIA App via DLSS Override.