NVIDIA has officially kicked off CES 2026 with a keynote that has the entire gaming world buzzing. In a presentation that felt less like a tech update and more like a glimpse into the future, the GPU giant officially unveiled the highly anticipated GeForce RTX 5070 and the next evolutionary leap in AI rendering: DLSS 4.5. With promises of "unprecedented" performance per watt and a new AI architecture capable of shattering the 240 FPS barrier in path-traced titles, NVIDIA is making a bold claim for dominance in the 2026 gaming landscape.

The GeForce RTX 5070: Blackwell for the Masses

While the flagship RTX 5090 has been turning heads with its raw power, the GeForce RTX 5070 announcement was arguably the most significant moment for the average PC gamer. Built on the refined NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5070 targets the sweet spot of the market with a launch price of $549. But don't let the mid-range pricing fool you; NVIDIA claims this card delivers performance rivaling the previous generation's RTX 4090 when utilizing the full stack of new AI features.

The card features 12GB of the new, blisteringly fast GDDR7 memory and a redesigned core layout that significantly boosts ray tracing throughput. During the demo, the RTX 5070 was shown handling Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty at 4K with path tracing enabled, maintaining a steady framerate that previously required hardware costing three times as much. For gamers waiting to upgrade, the GeForce RTX 5070 release date is confirmed for later this month, with partner cards from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte expected to hit shelves immediately.

DLSS 4.5: The Era of Dynamic Multi Frame Generation

The hardware is impressive, but the real star of the show was the software. DLSS 4.5 features a groundbreaking new technology called "Dynamic Multi Frame Generation." Unlike previous iterations that inserted a fixed number of frames, DLSS 4.5 uses a 2nd Generation Transformer Model to dynamically generate up to 6 frames for every traditionally rendered one. This intelligent system communicates directly with your monitor's refresh rate, scaling generation up or down in real-time to minimize latency and eliminate tearing.

This isn't just about higher numbers on a graph; it's about fluidity. By decoupling the render rate from the display rate, DLSS 4.5 allows the RTX 5070 to drive 360Hz and even 480Hz displays in competitive shooters without the CPU bottlenecks that have historically plagued high-refresh-rate gaming. NVIDIA demonstrated this with a jaw-dropping side-by-side comparison, showing the new tech smoothing out stutter in open-world scenarios where traversal traditionally causes frame drops.

Showcase Titles: Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata

To prove the capabilities of this new AI gaming technology 2026, NVIDIA showcased two flagship titles running on the new hardware. Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem, set for release on February 27, 2026, was displayed running at a locked 240 FPS with full path tracing enabled. The lighting fidelity—from the neon reflections in rain puddles to the terrifyingly realistic shadows—was maintained without the visual artifacts often associated with aggressive upscaling.

Similarly, the enigmatic sci-fi adventure Pragmata, finally confirmed for an April 24, 2026 launch, utilized DLSS 4.5 to render dense, particle-heavy environments that would bring traditional renderers to a crawl. These demos solidified the message: CES 2026 hardware highlights are defined not just by raw silicon, but by how neural rendering is rewriting the rules of game optimization.

Why This Matters for Gamers in 2026

The introduction of the RTX 5070 and DLSS 4.5 marks a pivotal shift. We are moving past the era where "native resolution" is the gold standard and entering one where AI reconstruction offers superior image quality and motion clarity. For builders looking for the best gaming GPUs 2026 has to offer, the value proposition of the 5070 is hard to ignore. It brings enthusiast-level path tracing to a price point that, while still premium, is attainable for a much wider audience.

NVIDIA also confirmed that while Dynamic Multi Frame Generation will be exclusive to the Blackwell RTX 50-series due to hardware-specific optical flow accelerators, the updated Super Resolution component of DLSS 4.5 will be available to all RTX owners via a driver update next week. This gesture ensures that even users on 30-series cards see a tangible benefit from the new Transformer models trained on NVIDIA's expanding supercomputer clusters.

Availability and What's Next

The NVIDIA CES 2026 news cycle is far from over, but the gauntlet has been thrown. The GeForce RTX 5070 is slated to be the volume seller of the year, and with DLSS 4.5 arriving in spring to unlock the card's full potential, PC gaming has never looked—or performed—better. As we wait for independent benchmarks, one thing is clear: the line between rendered reality and AI-generated magic is becoming indistinguishable.