The main driving force for the evolution of computer graphics have been predominantly gaming and as we reach the tipping point of a new era as raytracing becomes more prevalent more than ever, its now time to see who leaves an indelible mark in history. As they saying goes: there can only be one first and NVIDIA has more than made sure people knew they were first to market with real-time raytracing for mainstream desktops. As they really game developers to create more raytraced games, the early criticism of raytracing being “just a fad” or “senseless” is now becoming buried under the reality that this is not just the future, raytracing is here, but NVIDIA isn’t sitting down and relaxing, they’re forcing evolution to happen before our eyes.
At the end of the day, games are still a business but to others, its also an artform. To present that artform into the vision of the creator while still making it usable for the general masses is the template that many games of today adhere to. Introducing raytracing into that mix automatically restricts the audience you’re introducing that game to a smaller amount of people. As of January 2021 though, raytracing is present in the majority of gaming consoles as well as the latest graphics cards and it is on PC that we see more and more raytraced games introduced.
Raytracing: Baby Steps
This year, we’ll see more games receive raytracing, as we slowly leave behind a raster-only world. For many gamers, raytracing is an option. For many others, it’s a compromise: a compromise between an excellent visual experience and a fast-paced PC experience that we’re all used to. Of course, the performance penalty isn’t something everyone is willing to accept and will gladly disable it. But that’s limiting the experience, and PC gaming is all about freedom. That said, as raytracing hardware like NVIDIA’s RTX graphics cards continue to progress in processing power, we’ll just have to be creative with a solution that would provide a boost in performance yet let us enjoy raytracing more.
Deep-Learning Super Sampling or DLSS is NVIDIA’s answer to improving what we have right now in, regardless if the game has raytracing or not. DLSS can take a game and improve its performance further by super-sampling a smaller resolution to the target, 4K for example as the target, being rendered in 1440p. NVIDIA’s DLSS 2.0 has evolved to a point where accuracy and details are sometimes much clearer on the DLSS model because of how advance the AI has come.
With that said, raytracing and DLSS go together hand in hand and users have the option of disabling on or both, so they can test which combo works best for them. It’s a great concept and solution and doesn’t force us gamers to revert back to the stone age of PC gaming to embrace raytracing.
RTX Technologies Coming to More Games
Now raytracing and DLSS isn’t the only technologies that NVIDIA has baked onto their RTX hardware, there’s plenty more out there, some are not just focused in games but content creation like NVIDIA Broadcast, you can read more about that in this link. In this article, now that you have a grasp of the current landscape of raytracing, let’s check out what games are coming with RTX technologies.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Infinity Ward definitely knows how to make a classic and Call of Duty Modern Warfare, now officially renamed as Call of Duty Warzone, is one of the hottest PC titles around. Debuting with raytracing technology for NVIDIA RTX owners, and then receiving NVIDIA Reflex, Call of Duty: Warzone will soon feature DLSS as well.
Outriders
Touted as one of the top 2021 games, this RPG shooter puts players on a journey on a hostile planet. NVIDIA is announcing a technical partnership with Square Enix to bring out more from Outriders. The game will release with NVIDIA DLSS to provide PC gamers with a experience on RTX hardware.
Five Nights At Freddy’s: Security Breach
Well well well, look who it is! The smash hit Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise is looking to ad another installment to the story with Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach. The game will introduce a new visual style and will feature NVIDIA’s full raytracing offering as well as DLSS.
The Medium
A new psychological horror from Bloober Team is launching really soon on PC and the game will launch featuring NVIDIA raytraced reflections and raytraced shadows. The Medium will feature DLSS as well as it takes gamers through puzzles and challenges to help elevate the game’s eery visuals.
F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch
Featuring the entire NVIDIA RTX raytracing set together with NVIDIA DLSS, F.I.S.T is a side-scrolling, Metroidvania-style game where we see our protagonist, who also happens to be a giant rabbit with a giant fist, traverse through the raytraced world in this fast-paced arcade action game.
Early Access: Iron Conflict, Edge of Eternity
NVIDIA is supporting developers at every stage and we see some early access games supporting DLSS with Iron Conflict and Edge of Eternity.
RTX 30 series Laptops Special Promotion on Fortnite and Minecraft
This isn’t RTX news per se more news about RTX, kinda. Kidding aside, Fortnite will see a new raytraced map, the RTX Morbid Madhaus where players need to survive without going mad. A special bonus is hidden in the map: a room where instructions on how to join NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series laptop giveaway is located.
Good luck!
NVIDIA is announcing the launch of the first ever Minecraft with RTX Build Challenge series. Pairing world-famous Minecrafters with the most prolific build-teams, each series consists of a two-week challenge to create the most epic Minecraft masterpiece possible.
As we power through another year, raytracing will be ingrained into more games. With a little push from DLSS, we’ll also be getting more performance which should make making the jump to RTX a no brainer for many buyers. You can find out more information about NVIDIA RTX technologies and RTX products from the Geforce website: GeForce.com Official Site: RTX Graphics Cards, VR, Gaming, Laptops (nvidia.com)
Let us know which game you want us to review or stream. Leave a comment and we’ll be there when the game launches!
