Cyberpunk 2077: Editing options.json for Hidden DLSS 3.5 Tweaks

Cyberpunk 2077 remains one of the most demanding titles on PC, pushing the boundaries of real-time ray tracing and upscaling technologies. While the in-game menu offers plenty of choices, many players find that certain DLSS 3.5 features—like Ray Reconstruction—can be finicky or locked depending on specific driver versions or hardware combinations. By editing the options.json file, we can force the engine to prioritize certain DLSS 3.5 flags, improve frame pacing, and eliminate the “ghosting” effect often associated with aggressive upscaling.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• NVIDIA RTX 40-Series: Best for optimizing Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction stability.
• NVIDIA RTX 20 & 30-Series: Can use this guide to ensure Ray Reconstruction is forced on (if supported) and to clean up ghosting artifacts.
• Visual Clarity: This guide focuses on Ray Reconstruction (DLSS 3.5) which improves lighting accuracy without a heavy performance hit.

Backup and Preparation

Editing .json files is safe, but a single missing comma can cause the game to crash on launch.

1. Navigate to the game directory.
2. Locate options.json.
3. Right-click and select “Copy”, then paste it into a backup folder.
4. Use Visual Studio Code or Notepad++ to edit the file to avoid formatting errors.

File Location

The core engine options are stored within the game’s installation folder, not the AppData folder: ...\Cyberpunk 2077\r6\config\settings\platform\pc\options.json

Best Config Settings

Search for the “DLSS” and “RayTracing” groups within the JSON structure and ensure these specific flags are set as follows:

{
  "name": "DLSS",
  "type": "bool",
  "value": true,
  "default_value": true
},
{
  "name": "DLSS_DNR",
  "type": "bool",
  "value": true,
  "default_value": true
},
{
  "name": "DLSS_FrameGen",
  "type": "bool",
  "value": true,
  "default_value": false
},
{
  "name": "RayTracing_RayReconstruction",
  "type": "bool",
  "value": true,
  "default_value": true
}

Note: “DLSS_DNR” refers to Deep Learning Super Sampling – Deep Noise Removal (Ray Reconstruction). Forcing this to true ensures the 3.5 denoiser is active even if the UI toggles it off.

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
DLSS_DNR	true	Enables DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction for better lighting and reflections.
DLSS_FrameGen	true	Forces Frame Generation flags for 40-series users (improves smoothness).
RayTracing_RayReconstruction	true	Ensures the AI denoiser replaces the hand-tuned denoisers for RT.
DLSS_Sharpness	0.40 – 0.60	Balances visual clarity without introducing artificial shimmering.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To prevent the game from overriding your options.json tweaks:

• Resolution Scaling: Set to “DLSS”.
• DLSS Mode: “Balanced” is recommended for 1440p; “Performance” for 4K.
• Film Grain & Chromatic Aberration: Turn these OFF to allow DLSS 3.5 to produce a cleaner image.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Game Won’t Start: This usually means a bracket {} or comma , was deleted by accident. Restore your backup and try again.
• Ray Reconstruction Greyed Out: Ensure your NVIDIA drivers are updated to at least version 537.42. If it’s still greyed out, forcing DLSS_DNR in the json will usually bypass the menu lock.
• Ghosting Behind Cars: Lower the “DLSS Sharpness” in the file to 0.35. Excessive sharpening often highlights upscaling artifacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By fine-tuning options.json, you take control of the REDengine’s deep integration with NVIDIA’s AI suite. Users can expect significantly more accurate reflections, reduced light flickering in dark areas (like Dogtown), and a more stable frame delivery when using Frame Generation.