In the wake of the much-anticipated release of DOOM: The Dark Ages, a wave of discussion has surged through the gaming community, particularly regarding the game’s technical requirements. The revelation that id Software’s latest title mandates a graphics card equipped with ray tracing hardware has raised eyebrows, especially among PC gamers. To engage with this new offering, players must possess at least an NVIDIA 20-series graphics card, effectively sidelining older models like the GTX 1080.
Similarly, the recently disclosed PC requirements for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have sparked concerns about performance issues on existing hardware, as this title also necessitates ray tracing capabilities. The community’s apprehension reflects a broader anxiety about the evolving landscape of gaming technology.
Ray tracing isn’t new, and it’s a fair expectation for developers to have
During an insightful conversation with Digital Foundry, Billy Khan, the director of engine technology at id Software, elaborated on the transformative impact of ray tracing on game development. He noted that without this technology, the timeline for creating DOOM: The Dark Ages would have been extended significantly, potentially by years. The shift to ray tracing has streamlined the development process, allowing for real-time adjustments without the cumbersome task of pre-baking lighting effects.
Khan emphasized, “Without ray tracing and with the same design goals, we would have had to elongate the time by a magnitude of years, because we wouldn’t have the ability to create the same type of content.” This perspective underscores the importance of embracing advanced technologies in the gaming industry.
Ray tracing has been a part of the graphics card landscape for over seven years, marking a substantial evolution in gaming capabilities. All current consoles, including the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, support this technology, with even the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 expected to incorporate it, albeit with varying degrees of implementation. As technology progresses, the expectation for developers to utilize ray tracing in their projects becomes increasingly reasonable.
There are understandable gripes, but NVIDIA is to blame
While the shift to ray tracing is generally welcomed, it’s understandable that some players feel frustrated when informed that their existing hardware may not support new releases. The reality is that many gamers invested in technology that is now deemed outdated, despite being relatively recent purchases.
However, the current landscape presents challenges, particularly concerning NVIDIA’s latest graphics cards. The RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 have faced scrutiny due to driver issues that have affected gameplay across various titles, including DOOM: The Dark Ages. Furthermore, NVIDIA’s restrictive policies on initial reviews of the 5060 have only added to the uncertainty surrounding their products.
Fortunately, alternatives exist. AMD and Intel GPUs are more than capable of delivering an excellent gaming experience with DOOM: The Dark Ages, as are NVIDIA’s 30 and 40-series cards, which remain accessible for those willing to search.
I hope we see more game developers following id Software’s lead
The complexities of modern game development have led to extended production timelines, even for sequels. While ray tracing alone may not resolve all these challenges, id Software’s experience demonstrates its potential to enhance efficiency and creativity in game design.
Other studios, such as 4A Games, have already adopted ray tracing as a fundamental element of their development pipeline. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it is hoped that more developers will embrace this technology, paving the way for innovative and visually stunning gaming experiences in the near future.
