This week, New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry has emerged as a major lightning rod for that outrage. He’s now leading an effort to boycott Nvidia over its new graphics technology, DLSS 5. This latest version of Deep Learning Super Sampling goes further into the rendering pipeline. Its radical contributions lie in how it disrupts the creative and cultural shape of video games, beyond decorating their result shot. Oshry’s position resonates with scores of industry executives. Neither do they like its implications for automated technologies changing the landscape of game visuals or what performance should even look like in the future.
Ironically, this call for resistance against DLSS is occurring while Oshry is focused on stoking fear of this new technology. He claims that DLSS is the harbinger of an alarming new approach to thinking about and creating aesthetics in games, one that values robot labor over artisanal work. David Szymanski, another changemaking industry leader, agrees. He is concerned that the focus on these “lateral” graphical advances might swallow the artistry and detailed craftsmanship that developers have historically poured into their projects.
Impact on Game Development
Oshry’s critiques go beyond DLSS 5 as a technology, highlighting how its impact stretches deep into the larger world of game development. He argues that studios who aren’t currently using DLSS actively are still impacted by DLSS as it has raised the bar for what graphical fidelity is expected. Nvidia isn’t slowing down their focus on AI in gaming graphics. This drive will push the whole industry to standards that favor efficiency over quality.
Additionally, Oshry encourages gamers and developers both to fight against adopting DLSS and what it represents. He is particularly concerned that these new technologies will create visual uniformity. This would eliminate the special charm and creativity that indie devs bring to their games. In an era where innovation reigns supreme, he makes the surprising case for going more old school. These approaches showcase the craftsmanship at the heart of game design.
Broader Industry Reactions
This DLSS backlash has brought together a wide range of interests from across the gaming community. Many developers share Oshry’s concerns and express apprehensions about the industry’s trajectory. Advancing this growing unease is a significant, simmering debate over the merits of higher education. Everyone is quick to jump to the debate about AI being positive or negative for the creative process in gaming.
Szymanski takes particular aim at this industry’s drive towards this labor-saving automated solutions contributing to loss of quality and craftsmanship. He warns that relying too heavily on technologies like DLSS could create a landscape where visual fidelity is sacrificed in favor of speed and convenience. His observations buttress Oshry’s appeal for a boycott. They encourage all of us to reconsider the ways graphics technologies affect player expectations and game development.
