In August 2026, we informed you about an upcoming Path Tracing Mod for Dark Souls 3. A couple of days ago, modder ‘Ganaboy’ shared a new video showcasing its latest beta build with DLSS 5. So, if you are a big Dark Souls 3 fan, I strongly recommend watching it.
It’s also worth noting that Ganaboy has shared a new FAQ for this mod. So, let’s take a look at it.
The Dark Souls 3 Lighting Engine (DS3LE) will use an advanced version of NRD-SH as its main denoiser. Ganaboy says it can offer quality close to Ray Reconstruction. However, Ray Reconstruction is much more demanding on RTX 20 and 30 series GPUs. Because of this, NRD-SH is the main denoiser for DS3LE.
The mod is expected to be released by the end of the year. More than 80% of the game has already been added to the BVH. The final install size is expected to be around 3–4 GB. The mod also has about 10 times more geometry than DS2LE.
Performance should be similar to DS2LE. Even with the extra geometry, Ganaboy says the mod should run well. If you used DLSS Quality mode in DS2LE, you will likely need to use DLSS Balanced mode in DS3LE.
The modder will also keep testing the mod and make more changes to post-processing and lighting. In some areas, DS3LE may use fake lights to improve the final image. Unlike Dark Souls 2, torches will not be a key part of the default lighting setup. As such, you will not need a torch to progress when using DS3LE Path Tracing.
DS3LE will also work with UXM, ME2, and ME3. Online and Seamless compatibility has not been tested yet, so the modder cannot confirm if they will work.
Finally, DS3LE will support all AMD GPUs that can use ray tracing. However, you will still need a decent GPU to run the mod.
Speaking of Dark Souls 3, I also suggest downloading the demo for Dark Souls: Archthrones. Dark Souls: Archthrones is a cool Demon’s Souls-inspired mod for Dark Souls 3. You can also use this mod to play DS3 in first-person mode.
In January 2025, we also informed you about the Visual Overhaul Mod. This mod makes Dark Souls 3 look much better. It removes the annoying texture and object pop-ins. It also fixes the overly shiny, metal-like look of some surfaces. On top of that, it improves shadows, lighting effects, and adds better reflections and dynamic shadows to the game.
We also have a very cool Sekiro-like Deflection Mod. Deflecting attacks doesn’t use up stamina and keeps you from taking damage. The mechanic is timing-based when entering guard. It’s tricky to master but worth it, since perfect deflections can break your enemy’s guard. How many deflections you need depends on the enemy’s health. Weak enemies might need only two, while tougher ones, like Gundyr, can take more than ten deflections before their guard breaks. You can download the mod from here.
As we know by now, Sony does not plan to bring Bloodborne to PC. So, the only way to experience it is via the PS4 emulator, shadPS4. Or you can use this mod to make DS3 feel more like Bloodborne. If you are a Bloodborne fan, you should give it a try.
Finally, we have the Dark Souls 3 Seamless Co-Op Mod. This mod allows you to play DS3 in co-op with your friends. This is a must-have mod that can greatly enhance your gaming experience. So, don’t sleep on it.
Enjoy and stay tuned for more!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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