New ray-traced model coming in November

Each time somebody goes again to refresh the visuals of an iconic online game with a really established and well-remembered look, issues can get a bit funky. So whereas I perceive the attraction of one thing like Portal with RTX, a “reimagined” Portal kitted out with ray tracing, that doesn’t imply it’s strictly higher. It’s totally different! And chances are you’ll or might not dig it.

Alongside (expensive!) GeForce RTX 40 collection GPUs, Nvidia introduced Portal with RTX as free DLC coming to Steam in November for Portal house owners. 15 years later, in the event you can imagine it.

“Each gentle is ray-traced and casts shadows, world illumination oblique lighting naturally illuminates and darkens rooms, volumetric ray-traced lighting scatters by means of fog and smoke, and shadows are pixel good,” in accordance with Nvidia’s announcement.

Whereas the detailed surfaces are instantly noticeable, some comparability screenshots are extra flattering than others, so it’s finest to look at the trailer to get a complete view earlier than you begin messing with sliders on Nvidia’s prolonged weblog submit that breaks down Portal with RTX. It’s not simply lighting — there’s additionally “new artwork evocative of the unique.”

As the sport’s Steam web page notes, “Portal with RTX is appropriate with all ray-tracing succesful GPUs.” It’s a sparse itemizing, however there are screenshots (and you may wishlist).

I like that that is DLC, moderately than a compelled replace. We’re not all the time that lucky.

Portal is just the start (in the event you’re into mods)

This flashy mission got here to fruition at Nvidia Lightspeed Studios, following earlier RTX upgrades for Quake II and Minecraft. There’s extra the place that got here from, too.

Nvidia can be releasing RTX Remix, a free modding platform for supported PC video games that “can add ray tracing with just some clicks.” Whereas Portal with RTX is the principle showcase, Nvidia additionally confirmed off glossed-up scenes from 2002’s The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

“RTX Remix Mods work alongside present gameplay mods downloaded from Nexus Mods or different websites, giving video games with wealthy modded content material an prompt ray-traced improve,” the corporate mentioned. It additionally famous that “beforehand unmoddable” video games can be appropriate with these instruments, and “each RTX Mod additionally comes packaged with the RTX Remix Runtime editor, giving gamers a large number of choices to customise their expertise in real-time.”

Whether or not you’re a modder or only a participant, anticipate numerous new prospects for supported DirectX 8 and DX9 video games. No shade, however I’m curious to see fan creations that take a extra nuanced, measured strategy to upgrading outdated lighting. Much less is extra generally.