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That makes this a Microsoft Store/Game Pass launch bug, not proof that the entire PC release permanently lacked DLSS.
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What happened to DLSS on PC Game Pass?
NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black launched simultaneously on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Game Pass on January 23, 2025. Early PC Game Pass players discovered that the Microsoft Store build did not show DLSS or XeSS when selecting the game’s super-resolution method.
For owners of compatible NVIDIA RTX hardware, the missing menu options were frustrating. DLSS can provide another way to balance output resolution, image quality and frame rate by rendering internally at a lower resolution and reconstructing the result. The exact benefit depends on the GPU, resolution, graphics settings and implementation, so the missing option did not automatically make the game unplayable—but it removed a feature many PC players reasonably expected.
#1 Best Overall
- The World of NINJA GAIDEN II Remastered With Rich Visuals! – The stages, characters, effects, and lighting have been completely redesigned and remastered to provide realistic visuals. Unreal Engine 5 has been utilized to create stunning current-generation graphics, allowing players to immerse themselves more deeply in the story’s world
- High-Speed x Violent Action Further Evolved With the Latest Graphic Expressions! – Gore elements such as dismemberment and blood have been remastered to enhance the action experience. Players can enjoy high-speed, violent action using a wide variety of weapons and techniques, including Japanese swords, shurikens, Kusari-gamas, and tonfas. Note: The dismemberment feature can be toggled on and off in the Options menu
- Additional Characters, Mode for Beginners, and Elements From Subsequent Spin-off Titles Are Also Included! – This remaster includes additional elements from spin-off titles released after the original. Players can control three additional characters: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. The game also includes “HERO PLAY STYLE” mode that provides automatic support in challenging situations, making it accessible for those who may not be confident in their action skills
Contemporary player reports also described blurry output, ghosting and differences between the Game Pass and Steam experiences. Those reports explain the reaction, but they do not establish a technical cause or prove that every system experienced the same image-quality problem.
The problem affected the Microsoft Store build
Team Ninja’s official patch note specifically identified the Microsoft Store version as the affected build. That distribution channel includes the PC Game Pass release. It should not be generalized into a claim that every PC version of NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black launched without DLSS.
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PC players should distinguish between:
- PC Game Pass/Microsoft Store: the build named in Team Ninja’s bug fix.
- Steam: a separate PC distribution and build.
- Xbox Series X|S: a console version with a different graphics environment.
- PlayStation 5: another console build with its own rendering options.
The official PC specifications list Steam and Microsoft Store together as PC platforms, but the update notes differentiate the Microsoft Store version for this particular issue. The available evidence therefore supports “the Microsoft Store/Game Pass build initially hid DLSS and XeSS,” not “the PC game had no DLSS.”
Rank #2
- This is the definitive edition of the NINJA GAIDEN 2, which includes the addition of playable characters and battle support features
Team Ninja’s update notes also do not explain why the options were missing. Speculation about certification, packaging or files already present in the installation came from community discussion and should not be treated as a confirmed cause.
Team Ninja patched the missing options six days later
Version 1.0.6.0, dated January 29, 2025, fixed the issue in which DLSS and XeSS failed to appear in the Super Resolution Type selection on the Microsoft Store version. In other words, the documented fix restored the settings-menu options; it was not presented as the introduction of an entirely new rendering technology.
A later update, version 1.0.7.0, followed on February 12, 2025. It added features including post-clear inheritance, Photo Mode and a projectile-weapon display option, alongside further balancing and bug fixes. Team Ninja’s notes attribute the DLSS/XeSS visibility issue to version 1.0.6.0, so 1.0.7.0 should not be described as the update that introduced or re-fixed DLSS.
Rank #3
- The world of “NINJA GAIDEN 2” remastered with rich visuals! The stages, characters, effects, and lighting have been completely redesigned and remastered to provide realistic visuals. Unreal Engine 5 has been utilized to create stunning current-generation graphics, allowing players to immerse themselves more deeply in the story's world.
- High-speed x violent action further evolved with the latest graphic expressions! Gore elements such as dismemberment and blood have been remastered to enhance the action experience. Players can enjoy high-speed, violent action using a wide variety of weapons and techniques, including Japanese swords, shurikens, Kusari-gamas, and tonfas. Note: The dismemberment feature can be toggled on and off in the Options menu.
- Additional characters, mode for beginners, and elements from subsequent spin-off titles are also included! This remaster includes additional elements from spin-off titles released after the original. Players can control three additional characters: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. The game also includes "HERO PLAY STYLE" mode that provides automatic support in challenging situations, making it accessible for those who may not be confident in their action skills.
- Note: Only the Xbox Series X and the PC are available in 4K/120fps. 4K/120fps is not available for Xbox Series S.
What PC Game Pass players should check
- Update the game through the Xbox app or Microsoft Store and confirm that the installation is no longer on the January 23 launch build.
- Open the game’s graphics or display settings.
- Find the Super Resolution Type setting and check whether DLSS and XeSS are listed.
- Restart the game after changing the setting if the renderer does not refresh immediately.
If the options are still absent after updating, check the likely installation and compatibility causes:
- Confirm that the game is running on compatible NVIDIA or Intel hardware. DLSS requires supported NVIDIA hardware, while XeSS availability can also depend on the GPU and game build.
- Update Windows, the Xbox app and Gaming Services.
- Use the Xbox app or Microsoft Store repair/verification controls available for the installed version.
- Restart Windows and check again for a pending game update.
- Reinstall the game only after less disruptive update and repair steps fail.
Do not treat community configuration-file edits as the normal solution. Posts suggested changing files under C:Users<username>AppDataLocalNINJAGAIDEN2BLACKSavedConfigWinGDK, including DLSS preset values. Such workarounds are version-sensitive, may be overwritten or ignored, and should be unnecessary on a correctly patched installation.
DLSS is optional, not a system requirement
Team Ninja’s official PC requirements document TSR as the baseline upscaling method for its minimum and recommended targets. DLSS is therefore not required to launch or play the game.
Rank #4
- Everyone plays at the same time in a frantic battle to be the last Ninja Standing!
- Contains Core Game & Genin Pack Expansion!
- 10 playable Ninjas!
- 2-6 players
- 15+ min. playtime
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3400G | Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 XT |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| NVIDIA GPU | GTX 1060, 6 GB | GTX 1080, 8 GB |
| AMD GPU | RX 590, 8 GB | RX 5700 XT, 8 GB |
| Storage | 85 GB | 85 GB |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
Team Ninja’s targets assume an SSD and 60 frames per second. For its minimum specification, the company cites TSR at 1280×720 with the Light preset; for the recommended specification, it cites 1920×1080 with the Standard preset. The developer also reports internal verification of up to 4K/60 with upscaling on an i9-9900K and RTX 3080, and up to 1080p/120 with upscaling on an i9-12900 and RTX 3080. These are manufacturer verification results, not independent benchmarks.
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For the full requirements and platform details, see Team Ninja’s official specifications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you use PC Game Pass or Steam?
The DLSS bug alone does not establish that one platform is faster or more stable. The practical choice is mostly about access, ownership and the surrounding PC ecosystem.
Best Value
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma (Ninja Gaiden).
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Ninja Gaiden 2).
- Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.
- Classic Costumes included.
- DLC costumes included.
- Stay with PC Game Pass if you already subscribe, want to play without buying the game outright and the patched Microsoft Store build exposes the expected options.
- Choose Steam if permanent ownership, Steam’s overlay and configuration ecosystem, or a separate installation channel matters more to you.
- Choose console if you prefer a fixed hardware target and simpler installation and patching, accepting fewer PC-specific graphics controls.
Xbox says PC Game Pass libraries, features and availability vary by region, plan, platform and time. Check the official PC Game Pass page before subscribing. The price and catalog can change, so the January 2025 launch price should not be treated as a current store price.
Likewise, buying a new graphics card solely to compensate for a missing Game Pass menu option would not make sense. Hardware cannot fix an unpatched or incorrectly installed build, and DLSS support remains dependent on the title and compatible hardware.
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NINJA GAIDEN 2 BLACK did disappoint PC Game Pass players with missing DLSS and XeSS options—but only during the Microsoft Store version’s launch period. Team Ninja acknowledged the specific bug and fixed it in version 1.0.6.0 on January 29, 2025. As a launch retrospective, the headline is accurate; as a current description, “PC Game Pass has no DLSS” is misleading.
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