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Starfield supports NVIDIA DLSS natively on PC, but it does not currently offer a native in-game ray-tracing mode. Bethesda lists DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex and DLSS Frame Generation for compatible NVIDIA graphics cards. DLSS can improve image reconstruction or displayed frame rate; it does not add ray-traced lighting or reflections to Starfield.
Does Starfield support DLSS on PC?
Yes. Bethesda added native NVIDIA DLSS support in Update 1.8.86, released November 20, 2023. Its current support page lists DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency and DLSS Frame Generation for compatible NVIDIA graphics cards.
Starfield did not launch with native DLSS: its original PC release was in September 2023, and the feature arrived later. Older launch-era reports saying it lacked DLSS described the game at that time, not the current PC version. You do not need a third-party mod for Bethesda’s listed DLSS features on a supported, updated installation.
What each feature does
- DLSS Super Resolution: renders internally at a lower resolution and reconstructs an image for the selected output resolution. It can improve performance when the GPU is the bottleneck, but the result depends on resolution, settings and the chosen mode; it cannot fix a severe CPU bottleneck.
- DLAA: applies DLSS-based anti-aliasing at native resolution. It prioritizes image quality rather than the performance boost sought from upscaling, and can use more GPU resources than a lower-resolution upscaling mode.
- DLSS Frame Generation: creates additional displayed frames between conventionally rendered frames. It can make motion appear smoother, but generated frames do not raise the underlying simulation rate or guarantee a matching improvement in input response. Artifacts may occur around HUD elements, fast-moving objects or complex geometry; it is generally less useful with a very low base frame rate or a CPU limit.
- NVIDIA Reflex: a separate latency-reduction feature. It is not an upscaler or a ray-tracing mode.
There is no universal frame-rate gain to expect: results vary with the GPU, resolution, graphics settings, driver and whether the game is GPU- or CPU-limited.
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Does Starfield have ray tracing?
No native ray-tracing mode is available in Starfield’s standard PC graphics settings. Current technical coverage describes the game as never having implemented ray tracing (Tom’s Hardware). That means there is no built-in toggle for ray-traced lighting, reflections or shadows. It does not mean the game has no lighting, shadows or reflections: it uses other rendering techniques.
DLSS and ray tracing are different technologies. DLSS can work in a game without ray tracing, as it does in Starfield; turning on DLSS will not add ray-traced effects. An RTX graphics card’s ray-tracing hardware also cannot unlock a mode the game does not implement.
How to enable DLSS in Starfield
- Update Starfield through Steam, the Xbox app or the PC storefront where you play, and install a current NVIDIA graphics driver.
- Launch the PC version and open Settings, then its Display or graphics/display-options section.
- Select the available DLSS option for upscaling or anti-aliasing. Choose Frame Generation separately if it is offered for your hardware and installed build.
- If Frame Generation is active, turn VSync off. Bethesda says VSync must be disabled for the Frame Generation benefit to appear.
- Apply the settings; if they do not take effect, restart the game and check the Display settings again.
Exact labels and menu placement can vary by build, storefront, driver and display mode; Bethesda’s support page does not give one universal menu path or complete hardware matrix.
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If the DLSS option is missing
- Confirm you are running the fully updated PC version and that the game is using the intended NVIDIA GPU. This matters especially on laptops with both integrated and discrete graphics; Bethesda’s PC troubleshooting guidance recommends current video drivers and selecting the primary GPU.
- Check that the card supports the specific DLSS feature you want. Bethesda’s mention of NVIDIA cards does not mean every NVIDIA GPU supports modern DLSS features.
- Reopen Display settings after an update; Bethesda has noted that display settings may reset in some circumstances (Bethesda support).
- Temporarily disable visual mods or DLL replacements, verify the game files through Steam or the Xbox app, and restart after changing display or Frame Generation settings.
- If Frame Generation is enabled but the result disappoints, check that VSync is off and assess the base frame rate and CPU utilization. Frame Generation cannot remove a CPU bottleneck.
Which GPU do you need?
Bethesda’s PC system requirements list these graphics cards:
| Requirement | Listed GPU | What it means for DLSS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | AMD Radeon RX 5700 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti | A general Starfield requirement, not a DLSS compatibility guarantee. The GTX 1070 Ti does not provide the hardware needed for modern DLSS features. |
| Recommended | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 | A general game-performance recommendation, not a strict requirement for every DLSS feature. |
Separate three questions when choosing a card: can it run Starfield at your preferred settings; does it support the DLSS feature you want; and can it sustain a suitable base frame rate for Frame Generation? The minimum and recommended specifications answer the first question broadly, not the other two. An RTX card can be useful for DLSS and Frame Generation, but buying one solely to enable Starfield ray tracing is not justified because there is no native mode.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.DLSS and FSR in Starfield
Starfield launched with AMD FSR 2 support and later received FSR 3 for PC, which Bethesda announced in its FSR 3 update announcement. Both DLSS and FSR are upscaling technologies; neither is ray tracing.
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| Technology | Role in Starfield | Hardware context |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA DLSS | Upscaling; Starfield also supports DLAA, Reflex and Frame Generation | Requires compatible NVIDIA RTX hardware for the relevant DLSS features. |
| AMD FSR | Upscaling; Starfield received FSR 3 on PC | Designed for broader hardware compatibility than NVIDIA DLSS. |
| Ray tracing | A rendering method for effects such as ray-traced lighting or reflections, not an upscaler | Starfield has no native in-game ray-tracing mode. |
Choose between available upscaling options based on your hardware, image quality and performance in your own settings. Neither method has a guaranteed frame-rate gain across all systems.
Is DLSS 5 available in Starfield?
NVIDIA announced DLSS 5 on March 16, 2026, described it as arriving in fall 2026, and named Bethesda among the developers supporting it. NVIDIA said DLSS 5 had been running in Starfield and that Bethesda intended to bring it to the game and future titles (NVIDIA announcement; NVIDIA investor-relations release). Those statements establish a demonstration and announced future support, not that DLSS 5 is already included in the ordinary retail build. The demonstration does not establish ray-tracing support either.
Which Starfield platforms have DLSS?
DLSS is a PC feature for compatible NVIDIA GPUs, not an option available on console. Bethesda lists Starfield for Xbox Series X|S, PC through the Xbox app and Steam, and PlayStation 5 on its platform availability page.
| Platform | Can the player enable NVIDIA DLSS? | Native ray-tracing mode |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC with compatible NVIDIA GPU | Yes | No standard native mode |
| Xbox Series X|S | No | No PC-style DLSS option |
| PlayStation 5 | No NVIDIA DLSS | No PC-style DLSS option |
| Cloud streaming | The player cannot independently enable DLSS; server configuration is service-specific | Service-specific |
Console resolution scaling is not the same thing as NVIDIA DLSS, and cloud players do not control the server’s graphics configuration.
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