Installation Guide - Valheim Upscaler Mod

The mod DLLs in this package are already laid out in the correct folder structure. You only need to download BepInEx, Streamline, and OptiScaler.

Downloads

1. BepInEx 5.4.x (x64): BepInEx
2. Streamline v2.12.0: NVIDIA-RTX/Streamline releases — everything needed is under bin/x64/: the sl.* plugins, nvngx_dlss.dll, and nvngx_dlssg.dll
3. OptiScaler: latest release — intercepts the mod's DLSS call; backend (DLSS / FSR 3.1 / XeSS / FSR4) is picked in its overlay

Installation

Step 1: Install BepInEx

1. Extract the BepInEx zip into the Valheim install folder.
2. Run the game once, then close it.

Step 2: Install the Mod Files

Drag the contents of dlss-mod-rel into your Valheim installation folder and allow Windows to merge and overwrite files when prompted.

Step 3: Streamline Files

From the Streamline release's bin/x64/:

1. Copy nvngx_dlss.dll next to valheim.exe (exposes DLSS as an upscaling backend).
2. Copy nvngx_dlssg.dll next to valheim.exe.
3. Frame gen: copy sl.common.dll, sl.pcl.dll, sl.reflex.dll, sl.dlss.dll, sl.dlss_g.dll into <Valheim>\sl_plugins\. This path is NVIDIA-only;

Warning: All Streamline files are required and must come from the same release. Mixing versions or missing files may prevent the mod from initializing.

Step 4: Install OptiScaler

Install OptiScaler by placing it in the game directory and running setup_windows.bat.

Step 5: Steam Launch Options

Right-click Valheim -> Properties -> General -> Launch Options: -force-d3d12

First Launch & Verification

1. Start Valheim via Steam and load into a world (the mod is inactive in menus).
2. Settings -> Graphics -> set Render Scale below 100% (e.g. 75%). At 100% the upscaler stays dormant.
3. Press Insert to open the OptiScaler overlay and pick a backend(defaults to DLSS for NVIDIA).
4. F7 toggles the upscaler on/off; F3 opens the mod menu.
5. Frame gen: in the overlay set FG Input = DLSSG (via Streamline), FG Output = FSR-FG / XeFG, enable HUDfix, toggle with End.
6. Frame gen on AMD/Intel: the Streamline path is NVIDIA-only, but OptiScaler's own frame gen works on any vendor — set FG Input = OptiFG (Upscaler) instead, same FG Output/HUDfix settings.

Hotkeys

Key	Function
F3	Upscaler Menu — pick the preferred upscaler (applies next launch) or live by the slider, set quality mode, toggle frame generation, view FG status and the full hotkey list
F7	Toggle the upscaler on/off (A/B compare against vanilla rendering)
F11	Toggle DLSS-G frame generation (experimental, tested only on NVIDIA; also needs FrameGen Enabled + FG Input = DLSSG in the OptiScaler overlay)
Insert / End	OptiScaler overlay / OptiScaler FG toggle

Final File Placement

In your Valheim install folder:

<Valheim>\
├── valheim.exe
├── dxgi.dll                  <-- OptiScaler
├── nvngx_dlss.dll            <-- from Streamline bin/x64
├── nvngx_dlssg.dll           <-- from Streamline bin/x64
├── sl_plugins\               <-- Streamline plugins, all from the same build
│   ├── sl.common.dll
│   ├── sl.pcl.dll
│   ├── sl.reflex.dll
│   ├── sl.dlss.dll
│   └── sl.dlss_g.dll
│
├── BepInEx\
│   └── plugins\
│       └── ValheimUpscalerRecon\
│           └── ValheimUpscaler.Recon.dll   
└── valheim_Data\
    └── Plugins\
        └── x86_64\
            └── ValheimUpscalerNative.dll