DCS Control 0.5.5 preview

DCS Control runs DLSS 5, frame generation and Quad Views foveated rendering together in VR (Pimax), set up and launched with one button, and makes DCS faster for every pilot (engine CPU optimizations, monitor or any headset).

New in 0.5.5:

• Terrain prefetch fix inside Engine Optimizations. It runs inside the engine optimizations module and has its own switch on that page, no longer tied to CPU Boost. It counts in the headset panel's Engine line.
• Nothing in DCS's install folder without DLSS 5. Optimizations only no longer adds dxgi.dll/dxgi2.dll to DCS's bin, so there is no Windows permission prompt under Program Files and no new DLLs for the antivirus.
  • Updating is automatic: the first Launch DCS removes the old files (or puts your own dxgi.dll back) and turns the new fix on.
• ReShade (or another dxgi.dll mod) keeps working with DLSS 5. The app names it in Checks and asks once before Launch DCS. Keep it working loads it after the DLSS 5 loader; Set it aside keeps it off. It is backed up either way and Back to stock DCS puts it back.

Also in 0.5.4: works on many more PCs, plus a large bug-fixing round.

• DCS under Program Files works. The app asks Windows once for permission to write where it needs to, instead of stopping with "Access to the path … is denied". If an antivirus or Windows Security's Controlled folder access is what blocks the write, the app says so.
• AMD and Intel graphics: DLSS 5 and NVIDIA frame generation are refused with a clear message, and frame generation starts as FidelityFX.
• Pimax without eye tracking gets a fixed focus area; a desktop Tobii eye tracker is no longer mistaken for the headset's.
• Finding DCS:
  • Saved Games: the folder DCS really uses, DCS or DCS.openbeta.
  • Standalone installs: also found through Eagle Dynamics' registry entry.
  • Pimax Play: found when installed outside Program Files.
  • Saved Games on OneDrive works.
  • Paths with accented letters work.
• CPU Boost keeps a core pinning you set yourself (Process Lasso) and is safer on small CPUs.
• Pupil shift:
  • With DCS's custom IPD on, it now actually reaches DCS: the layer applies the same IPD itself.
  • Canted headset views no longer shift both pupils towards the nose.
  • The page explains what it corrects and what not.
• Stability:
  • Frame generation: fixes for a thread-safety issue with DCS's D3D11 context, a long GPU stall, a removed device, and a possible crash at exit.
  • Engine optimizations: start/shutdown races, leaks and log paths fixed. On AMD drivers without D3D11 command lists, the multi-threaded shadows and G-buffer are reported as not supported.
• Smaller interface fixes:
  • decimal comma accepted;
  • shortcuts work on AZERTY and similar layouts;
  • Windows high contrast supported;
  • no timeout while a Windows prompt is open.
    Full list in docs/RELEASE_NOTES.md.

Earlier:

• 0.5.3: Diagnostics page and diagnostic package.
• 0.5.2: Pupil shift, engine status in the headset, refresh rate read from Pimax Play.

DCS VR Control is now DCS Control. It is no longer only for VR: the CPU optimizations are for every pilot, on a monitor or with any headset. The VR features remain for Pimax headsets.

Early beta. Flown mostly on one PC so far (Pimax Crystal Super at 90 Hz, RTX 5090, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, DCS 2.9 Steam, single player). Expect rough edges and please report what you find.

For every pilot (monitor or any headset)

• Engine Optimizations: a small module DCS loads by itself from Saved Games takes CPU work off DCS's render and model threads (multi-threaded G-buffer and shadows, faster culling, leaner memory and state handling) with exactly the same image. About +50-60 % FPS depending on the scene and p95 −34 % at a busy VR airfield when DCS is CPU-bound (image verified identical pixel by pixel; with everything on, the GPU becomes the limit). Once applied it stays on every time DCS starts, also from Steam or a desktop shortcut.
• CPU Boost (optional): DCS priority and core placement from DCS's own CPU ranking, plus a fix for DCS's terrain prefetch loop (≈1.7 cores freed in traces). The prefetch fix now also works when DCS starts from Steam.
• Free VRAM (optional): close VRAM-hungry apps before the flight and reopen them after.
• Optimizations only: for a monitor or any other headset. DCS runs exactly as you set it up; no OpenXR runtime, layer or VR option is touched.

For Pimax headsets

• Foveated rendering: bundled Quad-Views-Foveated (eye-tracked); the focus area follows your Pimax Play settings (Quick/Fine). Keep Quad Views on in Pimax Play.
• DLSS-NR ("DLSS 5") on the focus area only, through a modified Cheeky Foveated DLSS, with an optional smaller central area and an in-flight on/off hotkey. Bring your own nvngx_dlssnr.dll (tested 310.8); the app keeps a verified copy.
• Frame generation: OFXR (djules75 fork + DCS pacing patches). Auto 2×/3×, in-headset diagnostic panel with optional VRAM counter and Engine and Pupil shift lines.

One-click Launch DCS and Back to stock DCS (every file and setting the app touched goes back).

Download

• DcsControl-0.5.5-preview-win-x64.zip: the app (self-contained .NET). Unzip it anywhere: inside are only DcsControl.exe, Install DCS Control.cmd, README.txt and a files folder that stays next to the exe. Double-click DcsControl.exe; Install DCS Control.cmd adds it to the Start menu (and replaces an earlier DCS VR Control install; your backups and profiles are kept). Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit (tested on 11). Needs the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime, which the installer adds if missing.
• DcsControl-0.5.5-preview-sources.zip: complete corresponding source, including the modified OFXR (LGPL-3.0) and Cheeky (GPL-3.0) components.

Please note

• Single player only so far: the app places a dxgi.dll loader (and optionally dxgi2.dll) in DCS's bin folder and, with Engine Optimizations, a hook in Saved Games\DCS\Scripts. Multiplayer and integrity checks are untested; use Back to stock DCS before joining a server or updating DCS.
• Start the app from the Start menu or Explorer.
• Frame generation adds latency, especially in 3×.

See the README and docs/USER_GUIDE.md. Support: https://ko-fi.com/nigos