How Gaijin Tuned DLSS 5 for War Thunder - NVIDIA

War Thunder, the military vehicle simulation game from Gaijin Entertainment, will incorporate NVIDIA's latest DLSS 5 technology with 3D-Guided Neural Rendering in its upcoming Eagle's Shadow update scheduled for mid-November. The enhancement will introduce improved lighting and material details while preserving the game's authentic vehicle aesthetics.

First released in 2013, War Thunder features thousands of high-fidelity tanks, planes, and warships across various PvP and PvE game modes. The game has continuously evolved with new technologies, including previous versions of DLSS, ray tracing, and path-traced global illumination.

Visual Enhancements

DLSS 5 operates as the final stage in the graphics pipeline, using the engine's rendered frame and motion vectors to add lifelike lighting and material detail. According to Kirill Stupin, War Thunder's art director, the technology delivers improved highlights and shadows while introducing a new level of microcontrast that wasn't achievable before.

Integration Challenges

The Gaijin team faced a significant technical challenge when integrating DLSS 5 into their Dagor Engine. The technology works in sRGB color-space, while most modern rendering engines, including Dagor, use linear HDR space in their rendering pipeline.

To resolve this 'chicken and egg problem,' the developers made their color management pipeline invertible, allowing them to produce a 'semi-final' image in sRGB for DLSS 5 to process, then map the changes back to linear HDR. NVIDIA provided detailed documentation that helped with the integration process.

Preserving Authenticity

Maintaining historical accuracy of vehicles was central to the integration process. The team carefully adjusted settings to ensure markings, surface wear, and material properties remained faithful to the original assets. They also applied a consistent approach across different environments, allowing DLSS 5 to enhance lighting while respecting each map's intended mood and readability.

The most striking visual improvements appear in overcast conditions with rain, where DLSS 5 brings out soft diffuse lighting, wet surfaces, and subtle material details that create a more atmospheric scene. The technology gives vehicles extra depth and presence under natural lighting, particularly in dull weather settings.

Future Development

The Eagle's Shadow update will also introduce dozens of new planes, ships, and tanks, along with cluster bombs for planes and additional visual effect enhancements. Gaijin Entertainment advises other developers considering DLSS 5 to invest time in tuning it against their own art direction, as the results significantly enhance visual quality while maintaining a game's distinctive style.