A few days ago, CD Projekt RED detailed the Ray Tracing effects for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen. According to the team, The Witcher 3 Next-Gen will have Ray Tracing for Global Illumination and Ambient Occlusion. However, NVIDIA is also stating that the PC version will also have Ray Tracing for both Reflections and Shadows.
As NVIDIA stated:
“On December 14th, all The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt PC players will receive a free update that adds various gameplay changes, new quest content, and new graphics features that take full advantage of the latest PCs and laptops.
Here’s what to expect:
- RTX Global Illumination (RTXGI) adds more immersive and realistic outdoor ray-traced lighting
- Ray-traced ambient occlusion improves shading around objects occluding light
- Ray-traced shadows improve the fidelity, clarity and visibility of shadows
- Ray-traced reflections increase the accuracy and quality of reflections on bodies of water and other suitably reflective surfaces
On top of that, Ultra+ settings increase draw distances, foliage density, background character detail, asset quality, and more. Texture resolutions are increased and environments gain new geometric detail.”
NVIDIA has also revealed that the Next-Gen Update will support DLSS 3. This is great news for all RTX40 series owners. After all, and from the looks of it, The Witcher 3 Next-Gen will be RT-heavy.
The Witcher 3 Next-Gen will release on December 14th!
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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Great to hear. Although I hope it’s implemented in a way that actually makes a visible difference. So far RTGI and RTAO have been barely apparent because it seems they didn’t want to alter the original visuals too much.
Regardless, once it gets on PC I’m sure modders will find a way to tweak the intensity of the effects.
Exactly!
The trailer baaarely looked any different, except for some more grass and betterer reflections.
That was the correct decision. You can’t just blanket solution lighting and keep the same feel, mood in a game. It’s why better AO and even RT on a game made with baked lighting or designed around custom AO usually looks worse. See Spiderman as an example where things are dark that aren’t supposed to be.
RT will be exciting when the lowest common denominator has it. The earliest that will possibly happen is 2031 and that will be on MAYBE one title on each console. PS6 is rumored to be 2028. Three years for adoption and work on a “next gen” title that won’t be on Ps5/Xbox current.
Blanket RT thrown on a game = can’t see sh@% in the dark, things are way too blinding and bright in other areas that are supposed to feel evil and dark.
If RT is implemented correctly in Witcher 3 to maintain the same feel, then it will also be pointless other than reflections.
That was the correct decision. You can’t just blanket solution lighting and keep the same feel, mood in a game. It’s why better AO and even RT on a game made with baked lighting or designed around custom AO usually looks worse. See Spiderman as an example where things are dark that aren’t supposed to be.
RT will be exciting when the lowest common denominator has it. The earliest that will possibly happen is 2031 and that will be on MAYBE one title on each console. PS6 is rumored to be 2028. Three years for adoption and work on a “next gen” title that won’t be on Ps5/Xbox current.
Blanket RT thrown on a game = can’t see sh@% in the dark, things are way too blinding and bright in other areas that are supposed to feel evil and dark.
If RT is implemented correctly in Witcher 3 to maintain the same feel, then it will also be pointless other than reflections.
Very true, Spiderman Remaster has worse lighting than the original in nearly every scene where I’ve seen them compared, and the whole first section with the Fisk takedown was butchered with some awful purple lighting and low contrast that it just looks bad side by side.
I’ve not seen a single game remaster that alters lighting that DIDN’T ruin the vibe and the atmosphere of some/many sections of the game, so a change that’s more precise in lighting and adds stuff without altering the original is exactly what’s needed.
Very true, Spiderman Remaster has worse lighting than the original in nearly every scene where I’ve seen them compared, and the whole first section with the Fisk takedown was butchered with some awful purple lighting and low contrast that it just looks bad side by side.
witcher 2 needs ambient occlusion.
Witcher 2 has ambient occlusion.
Welp, I guess that settles that!
Yes but it is dogshit, same as Deus Ex HR as they came out at the same time and both had the horrible initial version
While true, Witcher 2’s implementation is way better than HR. As are visuals overall.
then why it does it look like shadows dont exist?
Looking forward to an analysis of the improvements though I never got around to playing the original. Next year for sure
you’re missing out buddy
you must be young
Nah. Old enough to have played the first Witcher on release. Have just been letting it sit in my backlog in a sort of ‘save the best for last’ kinda way (I don’t plan on gaming forever) but it’s starting to look dated so I’ll take the plunge soon.
and consoles not?
New AMD (Radeon) Software Adrenalin 22.11.2 are out.
Support for:
The Callisto Protocol
Need for Speed Unbound
The Witcher® 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen Update
…And here I thought they’re gonna change those animations, two color fog and all. Huf, Silly me. Thank god, there are qol modders out there. Can’t wait for E3ARP.
Come on John!! You should at least cover these things. It’s the true e3 walking restoration mod for witcher 3 and possibly will release in December.
I’m ready to reinstall this masterpiece…it’s been a really long, TOO long time, but as they say….better late than never!
Sono pronto a reinstallare questo capolavoro…è passato davvero tantissimo,TROPPO tempo,ma come si suol dire….meglio tardi che mai!
And CDPR kills off the superior PC FoV functionality and adds the vomiting God Of Wuss camera shoulder-view. Awesome! /s
Better get back on those pills, they added closer camera options and separate options for mounted/walking camera, nothing was removed/killed.
Ray Tracing doesnt look all that impressive in the preview.
Compare it with the 2014 gameplay demo and weep. https://www.gamersyde.com/video_the_witcher_3_wild_hunt_e3_demo-32500_en.html
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