The latest Cyberpunk 2077 patch has quietly introduced a powerful new NVIDIA DLSS option called Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS). This mode dynamically adjusts rendering resolution to maintain target frame rates.
DLSS DRS for Smoother Gameplay
DRS allows DLSS to seamlessly switch between native rendering and upscaling on the fly in small increments. For example, it can drop 1440p down to 1420p temporarily to hold a steady 45 FPS. These tiny resolution tweaks are imperceptible but ensure performance stays on target.
Previously, DLSS only offered preset Quality/Balanced/Performance modes with fixed rendering resolutions. With DRS, the resolution is dynamically optimized scene-by-scene based on GPU load. This gives a smoother, more consistent experience than jumping between Quality and Balanced modes.
Early testing shows DRS working extremely well. According to Redditor skyj420, the game only dropped to 90% of native 1440p resolution in Cyberpunk’s most demanding areas. They described the tech as “rocking”, maintaining high visual fidelity and frame rates.
Caveats and Future Potential
DRS currently doesn’t support ray tracing features that rely on rendering resolution like path tracing. It also comes before NVIDIA Frame Generation, so the target FPS applies to DLSS 2.0 Super Resolution.
But as an exciting new capability, DRS has huge potential. Variable rendering resolution paired with AI could be a game changer, minimizing performance loss in demanding scenes while looking great. This feature may become a core part of DLSS going forward.
With Cyberpunk 2077 paving the way, DLSS continues to evolve as one of the most impactful technologies in gaming. NVIDIA may shed more light on DRS enhancements in their DLSS 3.2 announcement this week. Either way, the future looks bright for smarter, smoother AI upscaling.