Forget ray tracing, Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing is coming to PC

Ray tracing is all the craze, however Cyberpunk 2077 might assist make path tracing a viable gaming PC function. Whilst you’ll want one of many best graphics card choices round to take full benefit of the rendering approach, CD Projekt Pink says it’s working with Nvidia to make the tactic a mainstream setting.

In a bid to search out out extra about Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing, PCGamesN had a chat at GDC 2023 with Jakub ‘Kuba’ Knapik, CDPR’s world artwork director and VP of artwork. Whereas outlining the writer’s ambitions, Kuba revealed that the tech might be used to reinforce releases just like the Phantom Liberty growth, however received’t rejuvenate again catalogue favourites like The Witcher 3.

At this stage, you may be asking, “what’s path tracing?” Nicely, Kuba frames it as “film-like rendering,” because it had been utilized in cinema manufacturing for over a decade. For those who’ve ever discovered your self mesmerised by a current Pixar flick’s 3D visuals, you’ve seemingly received path tracing to thank, because it offers that immersive sense of depth that helps the Disney studio’s animations stand out.

In fact, Kuba says the function requires “very highly effective” PC {hardware} in the mean time, so that you’re going to wish a GPU just like the one examined in our Nvidia RTX 4090 review to take pleasure in path tracing in 2023. Even in case you are rocking the best gaming PC construct, the artwork director states that AI instruments like Nvidia DLSS 3 and Body Era will present the “additional headroom” wanted to boost fps and efficiency.

In a way, CDPR might be a path tracing pioneer, serving to to propel the rendering approach onto common rigs. Whereas the function is technically appropriate with all graphics playing cards, the developer is working alongside Nvidia to assist it change into an approachable ray tracing successor. The GPU large has already teased the tech with its Portal RTX revamp, however its inclusion within the upcoming Phantom Liberty growth is arguably an enormous step that’ll showcase what it will probably provide the PC gaming scene.

We’ll want to attend for the brand new Cyberpunk 2077 RT: Overdrive mode setting to reach to go our personal judgement, however Kuba insists that Phantom Liberty appears superb with path tracing. We’ll seemingly see it increase the visuals different CDPR releases down the highway too, however the dev continues to be engaged on including it to Unreal Engine 5 initiatives.

Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing will debut on April 11 by way of patch 1.62, so watch this house for our impressions and benchmarks. Simply remember that it’ll be a technical preview, so surprising bugs might present as much as trigger a ruckus.