Alan Wake 2 made its debut late last year, leaving many to assume it was a 2024 release. Its stunning visual design and impressive ray tracing set a high standard that, as the year unfolded, others have struggled to meet. Despite this, 2023 has not been without its technical achievements.
Game Releases and Technical Challenges
Dragon’s Dogma 2 launched in March, but its excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance left much to be desired. Fortunately, Nixxes Software’s port of Horizon Forbidden West provided a welcome counterbalance, showcasing the potential of well-executed traditional rendering.
In May, Nixxes once again impressed with the Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut. While it lacked ray tracing, the traditional rendering was executed with finesse. However, after experiencing the clarity of ray tracing, reverting to screen space reflections felt like a step back.
June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring. Unfortunately, it did not come with the anticipated engine updates, leaving PC gamers grappling with stutters and lag. It was not until August that titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws emerged, both heavily featuring ray tracing but plagued by performance issues and shader compilation delays.
Wukong, powered by Unreal Engine 5, offered visuals that justified its performance demands, while Outlaws improved significantly after several patches. Yet, the consensus remains that we are still a generation away from ray tracing being the norm in gaming.
Notable Ports and Releases
September brought a remarkable port of God of War Ragnarök, developed by the original creators, alongside Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, which performed admirably despite its chaotic battles. Neither title pushed the graphical envelope, but they were solid experiences.
In contrast, the Silent Hill 2 remake faced significant challenges on PC, with players encountering numerous glitches and performance issues that marred an otherwise celebrated title. Similarly, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled to launch smoothly, and Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, while visually appealing, suffered from performance hiccups.
Patches became a recurring theme, with Stalker 2 requiring substantial downloads to stabilize its performance. While high-end systems managed reasonably well, those on lower-end hardware faced considerable challenges.
Looking Ahead
Amidst these ups and downs, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle surprised many with its performance, even on lower-end hardware, though it still required ray tracing capabilities. The game, while glitchy, offered a fun experience and showcased impressive visuals.
As we look toward 2025, several high-profile titles are on the horizon, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Developers would do well to learn from the successes and pitfalls of this year’s releases. The integration of ray tracing should be approached with caution, ensuring that performance does not come at the expense of playability.
While Alan Wake 2 set a hopeful tone for 2024, the year has been a mixed bag. However, with a few standout titles, there remains optimism for future releases. Here’s to a promising 2025, where developers can rise to the occasion and deliver exceptional gaming experiences.
