Starfield preload could confirm lack of DLSS as modder promises own solution

If you're hoping for DLSS or XESS you might have to find outside support

Updated: Aug 21, 2023 10:17 am

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Starfield preload could confirm lack of DLSS as modder promises own solution

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No FSR 3 and Pure Dark DLSS mod

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With the upcoming game sponsored by AMD, many fans have worried about what technology can be implemented into it. With Starfield now available for preload, data miners have had a look at what the files have and could confirm the lack of DLSS but a modding hero might save you in the days of release.

Sebastian Castellanos over on Twitter is the user that has brought up the issues after looking through the Starfield preload files. It is rather soon as the Starfield release date is still a couple of weeks out on September 6th unless you have early access. But in those, there seems to be a lack of files that seem to have anything to do with Nvidia’s DLSS or Intel’s XeSS, the two companies’ own upscaling technology.

This was the concern after AMD announced to be the partner of the game. Fans looking back at all the other sponsored games and realizing they only feature AMD’s own FSR technology. As such the popular Bethesda title, with expected thousands of players with varying hardware, they’d expect their own support in the game but they might have to look to alternative means as it may seem AMD does keep exclusivity in its titles.

Datamine of Starfield files lacking upscalers — Starfield preload data mine which lacks the inclusion of DLSS and XESS, source: @Sebasti66855537

No FSR 3 and Pure Dark DLSS mod

There also seems to be a lack of AMD’s FSR 3 technology in the files as well. Since its announcement alongside the RDNA 3 graphics cards, there has been little information on when it will be released even with the additional information given at GDC. Starfield would’ve been the perfect title to introduce it to with such a big following and the potential performance struggles the game might have with its scope. With the game only including FSR 2 on release.

Even with FSR being a universal technology, those with Nvidia GPUs will prefer to utilize the proprietary DLSS that could work better and is still simple to add. However, Pure Dark has announced that they will likely have a DLSS 2 and 3 mod available for Starfield after a day of release. Commenting on a false post saying they had a review copy, Pure Dark clarified that they can reuse the code they already made for implementing the tech into other games such as Red Dead Redemption 2. That means just adapting it to Starfield once it releases but should give Nvidia users something to enjoy even with the exclusivity deals.

There is still time before the release though, which could allow some last-minute changes. As Nvidia has made it a lot easier to implement the tech so if there’s a big enough outcry about the exclusivity, Bethesda may still be able to change what’s available.