I love that DOOM: The Dark Ages requires ray tracing, and I hope more games follow

by

Since the launch of DOOM: The Dark Ages, which received a flawless score, there’s been quite a stir online. The system requirements for this game from id Software, featuring intense gore and demon-hunting action, have sparked discussion as they demand a graphics card that supports ray tracing technology.

Essentially, for new players looking to join on a PC, they should have a graphics card that is at least from NVIDIA’s 20-series; this effectively excludes earlier models such as the GTX 1080 from being able to participate in the game.

The same uproar ensued when MachineGames revealed the system specifications for their Indiana Jones and the Great Circle game, given that it too necessitated ray tracing for operation. There was widespread concern online that this requirement might lead to poor performance of Indiana Jones on many computing systems.

Marvel at it, the game’s performance was exceptionally smooth, consistently hitting a steady 60 FPS with ray tracing even on Xbox Series S, regardless of whether it was running on PC or consoles. Remarkably, DOOM: The Dark Ages, powered by id Tech 8, demonstrates similar excellence in optimization across various hardware setups. I’m thrilled to witness such performance, and I can only hope that more games will strive for this level of efficiency in the coming months.

Ray tracing can speed up game development

In an interview with Digital Foundry’s tech specialists, id Software’s engine technology director, Billy Khan, discussed that if they hadn’t structured DOOM: The Dark Ages around ray tracing, the development process would have taken significantly more time, potentially extending for years.

Following Khan’s explanation, transitioning to ray tracing signified that lighting no longer needed to be pre-calculated during game development, thereby freeing up a significant amount of time for the development team. This improvement enabled real-time adjustments without encountering any problems.

As a researcher, I find it compelling to acknowledge that, in the absence of ray tracing, our timeline for achieving the same design objectives would stretch out significantly, potentially by several years. This is due to the fact that we wouldn’t possess the capacity to generate the same caliber of content without this technology.

Ray tracing isn’t new, and it’s a fair expectation for developers to have

For about seven years now, graphics cards that support ray tracing have been on the market. This span of time is roughly equivalent to an entire console generation. Given the current state of technology, it would be unreasonable for a game to use hypothetical tech just becoming available in graphics cards. However, this type of hardware has been well-established over these years.

In terms of gaming consoles other than PC, all current models support ray tracing technology. This includes the Xbox Series X, similar to the PlayStation 5, while the PlayStation 5 Pro offers additional embellishments in its handling of ray tracing, and the Xbox Series S can manage it effectively with proper scaling.

The forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is equipped with ray tracing capabilities, but given Nintendo’s unique approach, I anticipate its usage may differ somewhat compared to the platforms of Microsoft and Sony.

Over time, technology naturally advances. Nowadays, it is not just acceptable but even anticipated that game developers incorporate ray tracing as a significant aspect in their development process.

There are understandable gripes, but NVIDIA is to blame

It’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page: Some people may feel frustrated when realizing an older game isn’t compatible with their technology, particularly since nobody enjoys learning that something they purchased years ago can no longer perform a new task, even if it’s hardware from nearly a decade past.

Presently, it’s challenging to wholeheartedly endorse the newest graphics cards from NVIDIA, particularly those high-end models like the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090, given their steep price points.

Issues with drivers have caused several complications in recent video games when using the 5000-series graphics cards, including DOOM: The Dark Ages. Notably, NVIDIA has imposed stringent limitations on initial evaluations of the 5060 model, leading to questions about its true potential.

The Dark Ages with excellent visual clarity and smooth gameplay.

I hope we see more game developers following id Software’s lead

Modern video game production faces numerous elements that extend the timeline for even sequel projects, taking significantly more time compared to earlier years. While ray tracing may not be an instant solution to these delays entirely, it’s clear from id Software’s experience that it can offer substantial assistance in game development.

Other studios, like the one behind the Metro series (4A Games), are currently transitioning all their projects to use ray tracing technology. It would be great if more developers start leveraging this technology at a faster pace in the future.

Read More

2025-05-29 18:09