DOOM: The Dark Ages gets Path Tracing update in June, bringing better visuals for PC players

In June, DOOM: The Dark Ages will offer PC gamers enhanced graphics thanks to the Path Tracing update, as announced by NVIDIA at Computex 2025 on Monday.

For the first time, we now have a specific timeline indicated for when id Software will roll out the Path Tracing update in their dark fantasy-themed first-person shooter game.

On the id Tech 8 engine developed by id Software, DOOM: The Dark Ages offers ray-traced global illumination (RTGI) across all platforms. Moreover, the PC versions of the game include ray-traced reflections as well. This latest Path Tracing update enhances the PC version even more, adding extra ray-traced details to every aspect of the gameplay.

Ray tracing, in essence, gets upgraded to Path Tracing. This enhancement takes the technology to unprecedented heights, offering significantly improved lighting and visual quality across all aspects of a game. However, this comes at a computational cost, which is one reason NVIDIA is promoting Multi Frame Generation alongside its 50-series graphics cards, to make it more affordable and accessible.

A limited number of games currently employ Path Tracing, a group that is gradually expanding, with notable additions such as CD Projekt RED’s Cyberpunk 2077, Remedy’s upcoming Alan Wake 2, and MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

In this specific situation, it’s worth noting that MachineGames stands out because it’s part of the same family as id Software. This means the two teams often work together, contributing to the development of innovative features for id Tech.

In addition to DOOM: The Dark Ages, a number of other games are scheduled to release in the upcoming weeks that will incorporate different DLSS 4 technologies. One of these is Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak, which is set to debut on June 17 and will feature ray tracing and Multi Frame Generation support.

According to NVIDIA, more than 125 games and applications currently utilize DLSS 4 technology with Multi Frame Generation. This announcement coincides with the release of NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 graphics cards. However, as my coworker Cale Hunt points out, there are some peculiarities emerging in early reviews of the card.

Right now, DOOM: The Dark Ages can be found on the Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5. Being an Xbox first-party game, it’s also included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service as well as the PC Game Pass.

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2025-05-19 18:39