Despite the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X both being released in November of 2020, many people are still not able to get their hands on one due to scalpers using bots to buy the new-gen consoles and then proceeding to sell them at much higher prices. If you have been wanting to buy one of these consoles, chances are that you have watched some videos of games that use the console's hardware to its full potential. If you have used one of the consoles from the previous generation, you can very easily see how much the graphics improved. Probably the biggest thing you will see is how amazing and realistic the lighting looks in some games. This is because the new-gen consoles have the ability to use ray-tracing, also known more commonly as RTX. To show what RTX is capable of, let's show it using a game that everyone can enjoy, Minecraft.
Throughout the many RTX off vs RTX on comparisons, it is very clear that RTX makes games much more immersive and realistic by using ray tracing and lighting effects. Probably the best example to show ray tracing in Minecraft in case you missed the video is by looking at this photo.
As you can see, when RTX is on, the lighting is much more realistic and lifelike compared to the very flat lighting in standard Minecraft when RTX is off. Even by looking at the oak planks (the floor), you see that the quality of the texture has gone up drastically. You are able to see the grooves between each plank and at first glance, you may even think that it is real life. Because of this, it allows texture pack creators to be even more extensive when it comes to designing the packs, and now with Minecraft VR, it will feel like you are in a completely different universe when playing which makes the experience even better.
Minecraft isn’t the only game that supports RTX. Another very popular game that was recently updated to support ray tracing was Fortnite. Whether you like Fortnite or not, everyone can agree that the game looks amazing with RTX on.
Clearly, RTX in Fortnite is very well done. It is so well done, that small things like windows all the way down to the armor on certain skins are capable of reflecting lighting. With RTX in Fortnite, not only does it affect things like mirrors and windows, but it also changes the way the environment looks. With RTX, the water looks a lot more like water rather than a flat surface and the grass gently sways from side to side with a very natural look rather than a still image.
Now, there are quite a few graphics cards that have ray tracing. The most recent cards to be released with RTX capabilities are the NVIDIA 3060, 3070, and 3080, as well as their TI variants. These cards have been out for a couple of months now, but similar to the new-gen Xbox and PlayStation, it is very hard to get your hands on one and we aren’t really sure when they will be normally available, but hopefully, that will be soon.
RTX has allowed for many amazing things in the game development industry and has allowed companies to make games that look very realistic and also make games much more immersive than they could have been previously. Going forward, this is definitely something that we will be seeing a lot more, and eventually, a basic laptop that will have a little cost will be capable of having these amazing graphics and giving users a great time.