Crysis 4: Taking Game Lighting to the Next Level with Path Traced Global Illumination'

The gaming industry has seen significant advancements in graphics technology over the past decade, and one technique that has emerged as a game-changer is path traced global illumination. This innovative approach can elevate game lighting to new heights, providing a more accurate and immersive experience for players.

Reshade, a popular post-process injection tool, has recently incorporated path tracing into its latest alpha builds. By hooking into DirectX, Reshade accesses the depth and color buffers to achieve a range of stunning effects, including SMAA anti-aliasing, screen-space reflections, and depth of field. The technology is currently in development, with modding veteran Pascal Gilcher at the helm.

The potential applications of path traced global illumination are vast, and one notable example is its application to classic PC games like Crysis. A recent video showcasing a path-traced version of Minecraft was breathtaking, but what if this technology could be applied to all DirectX9 and DirectX11 games? The results are nothing short of transformative.

To experience the power of path tracing for yourself, you can download and apply the Reshade settings provided in the article. Simply create a text document called 'Autoexec.cfg,' paste the settings into it, and move the file into the Crysis root directory.

In conclusion, the arrival of Nvidia's RTX graphics cards has put ray traced rendering on the map, inspiring developers to incorporate this technology into their games. Path traced global illumination is just one example of how game lighting can be taken to new heights, providing a more realistic and engaging experience for players. With Reshade leading the charge, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of path tracing in the future.

Crysis 4 2019