NVIDIA Reflex 2 Introduces Frame Warp to Cut Game Latency in VALORANT and THE FINALS

CES Las Vegas

The Need for Speed: Why Latency Matters

In the world of competitive gaming, every millisecond counts. Imagine this: you’re in the heat of a match, your heart’s racing, and you make a split-second decision to aim at an enemy. But instead of instant action, there’s a frustrating delay. That’s where input lag steps in, and it can be the difference between a glorious victory and a crushing defeat. Back in 2020, nVidia introduced something revolutionary—NVIDIA Reflex. This technology slashed PC latency in top competitive games by an impressive 50%, giving gamers the edge they crave.

So, how does it work? In simple terms, NVIDIA Reflex synchronizes the CPU and GPU, ensuring that your actions are reflected in-game faster. This means whether you’re battling it out in a multiplayer showdown or exploring a single-player world, the experience feels sharper and more responsive. Fast forward to today, and Reflex has been integrated into over 100 games, helping tens of millions of Geforce gamers boost their performance. And get this—over 90% of players opt to turn Reflex on, allowing them to aim better and rack up wins.

Introducing NVIDIA Reflex 2: A Game Changer

At CES 2025, we’re excited to unveil NVIDIA Reflex 2, which promises to take that latency reduction even further—up to a jaw-dropping 75%. Reflex 2 combines the original Reflex Low Latency mode with a technology called Frame Warp. This nifty feature updates the rendered game frame based on the latest mouse input right before it hits your display, making your gaming experience even more seamless.

But let’s break it down. Every time you make a move in a game, there’s a complex chain of events that happens before you see it on-screen. Your keyboard and mouse inputs travel through the CPU, then get queued up for the GPU to render, and finally, they’re displayed. This whole process can take tens of milliseconds, and any hiccup along the way can lead to that annoying lag.

With the original Reflex, NVIDIA aimed to optimize this latency pipeline by integrating an SDK directly into game engines. This allowed the CPU to work more efficiently, submitting tasks to the GPU right when they were needed. Reflex 2 takes this to the next level by introducing Frame Warp, a concept that emerged from research showing that players could complete aiming tasks faster when frames were updated based on the most recent mouse input.

How Frame Warp Works: A Sneak Peek

Imagine you’re aiming to the right with your mouse. Normally, there’s a delay before that movement is registered and rendered on-screen. But what if we could *warp* the existing frame to reflect that movement almost instantly? That’s precisely what Frame Warp does. As the GPU is rendering a frame, the CPU is already calculating where the camera should be based on your latest input.

Frame Warp samples this new position and adjusts the rendered frame just before it’s sent to your display. This means you see the most up-to-date perspective, significantly reducing latency for actions that shift the in-game camera. NVIDIA’s research team has developed a predictive rendering algorithm that fills in the gaps, ensuring that even when the camera shifts, the image remains seamless.

Take a look at Embark Studios’ THE FINALS as an example. With Frame Warp, the difference is striking. Without Reflex, latency on a GeForce RTX 5070 can be around 56 ms. But with Reflex Low Latency, that drops to 27 ms. Now, throw in Reflex 2 with Frame Warp, and you’re looking at a staggering reduction to just 14 ms! That’s a total latency cut of 75%—a game-changer for any serious gamer.

What This Means for Gamers

Reflex Low Latency mode shines when your PC is GPU bottlenecked, but Reflex 2 with Frame Warp offers significant improvements even in CPU-bottlenecked scenarios. For instance, in Riot Games’ Valorant, which runs incredibly fast at over 800 FPS on the new GeForce RTX 5090, average PC latency can drop below 3 ms using Reflex 2 Frame Warp. That’s one of the lowest latency figures ever recorded in a first-person shooter!

So, what’s next? NVIDIA Reflex 2 is set to roll out soon for games like THE FINALS and VALORANT, first on the GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, with broader support for other GeForce RTX models coming later.

Stay tuned to GeForce.com for updates on Reflex 2 availability and the latest games incorporating this innovative technology. In the meantime, don’t miss out on all the other exciting announcements from the GeForce RTX 50 Series, where we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming. Ready to level up your experience? We sure are!

Background Information

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About nVidia:

NVIDIA has firmly established itself as a leader in the realm of client computing, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in graphics and AI technologies. With a deep commitment to enhancing user experiences, NVIDIA's client computing business focuses on delivering solutions that power everything from gaming and creative workloads to enterprise applications. for its GeForce graphics cards, the company has redefined high-performance gaming, setting industry standards for realistic visuals, fluid frame rates, and immersive experiences. Complementing its gaming expertise, NVIDIA's Quadro and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards cater to professionals in design, content creation, and scientific fields, enabling real-time ray tracing and AI-driven workflows that elevate productivity and creativity to unprecedented heights. By seamlessly integrating graphics, AI, and software, NVIDIA continues to shape the landscape of client computing, fostering innovation and immersive interactions in a rapidly evolving digital world.

  

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Event Info

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About CES:

CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, is an annual event held in Las Vegas, Nevada, organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). With a history dating back to 1967, it has become the world's premier platform for unveiling and exploring the latest innovations in consumer electronics and technology. Drawing exhibitors ranging from industry titans to startups across diverse sectors, including automotive, health and wellness, robotics, gaming, and artificial intelligence, CES transforms Las Vegas into a global tech hub, offering a glimpse into the future of technology through a wide array of showcases, from startup-focused Eureka Park to cutting-edge automotive and health tech exhibitions.

  

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Technology Explained

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CPU: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It is the most important component of a computer system, as it is responsible for controlling all other components. CPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from desktop computers to mobile devices, gaming consoles, and even supercomputers. CPUs are used to process data, execute instructions, and control the flow of information within a computer system. They are also used to control the input and output of data, as well as to store and retrieve data from memory. CPUs are essential for the functioning of any computer system, and their applications in the computer industry are vast.

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Geforce: Geforce is a line of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by Nvidia. It is the most popular GPU used in the computer industry today. Geforce GPUs are used in gaming PCs, workstations, and high-end laptops. They are also used in virtual reality systems, artificial intelligence, and deep learning applications. Geforce GPUs are designed to deliver high performance and power efficiency, making them ideal for gaming and other demanding applications. They are also capable of rendering high-resolution graphics and providing smooth, realistic visuals. Geforce GPUs are used in a variety of applications, from gaming to professional workstations, and are the preferred choice for many computer users.

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GPU: GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is a specialized type of processor designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks. It is used in the computer industry to render images, videos, and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. They are also used in the medical field to create 3D models of organs and tissues, and in the automotive industry to create virtual prototypes of cars. GPUs are also used in the field of artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data and create complex models. GPUs are becoming increasingly important in the computer industry as they are able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

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Latency: Technology latency is the time it takes for a computer system to respond to a request. It is an important factor in the performance of computer systems, as it affects the speed and efficiency of data processing. In the computer industry, latency is a major factor in the performance of computer networks, storage systems, and other computer systems. Low latency is essential for applications that require fast response times, such as online gaming, streaming media, and real-time data processing. High latency can cause delays in data processing, resulting in slow response times and poor performance. To reduce latency, computer systems use various techniques such as caching, load balancing, and parallel processing. By reducing latency, computer systems can provide faster response times and improved performance.

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