A recent development in the gaming modding community has unveiled a new Path Tracing Mod for the classic title, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Originally released in 2002, this beloved sequel to Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II offers players both first-person and third-person gameplay experiences. The game is notable for its use of the OpenGL API, making this mod particularly intriguing as it marks the first RTX Remix Mod for an OpenGL-based game.
Technical Innovations in Modding
Despite RTX Remix traditionally not supporting OpenGL, modder ArjaanAuinger has ingeniously utilized the QindieGL wrapper along with extensive configuration adjustments to bring this mod to life. This breakthrough could potentially pave the way for future RTX Remix Mods for other OpenGL games, sparking excitement among the gaming community.
As this mod is currently a tech demo, it only enhances one level of Jedi Outcast with Path Tracing capabilities. Gamers should temper their expectations, as this is not a fully polished experience akin to the RTX Remix Mod for Star Wars: Republic Commando. Visual issues are present, and the mod is quite demanding on hardware, with performance estimates around 50 FPS at 1080p on an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070.
For those eager to explore this new mod, it is available for download via the provided link. Additionally, two videos showcase the mod’s capabilities, offering a glimpse into what players can anticipate. For those hesitant to dive into the download, these videos serve as an excellent preview.
The year 2024 has already seen a plethora of RTX Remix Mods across various titles. Earlier in the year, several mods were announced, including those for Tomb Raider 2, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Manhunt, and Garfield Kart. Subsequent months introduced videos for Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Unreal, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, and Midnight Club 2, among others. The excitement continued with the first screenshots from the RTX Remix Mod for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, as well as early visuals for titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.
In the realm of Path Tracing Mods for older games, enthusiasts may also wish to explore demos released for Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, and Call of Duty 4. While the COD4 mod is merely a proof of concept and lacks refinement, the community continues to innovate with RTX Remix Mods for titles such as NFS: Underground, Painkiller, and Left 4 Dead 2. Not to be overlooked, the RTX Remix for Unreal Tournament 2004 and the recent updates for Max Payne further illustrate the vibrant modding landscape.
As the gaming community eagerly anticipates future developments, the potential for enhanced experiences through innovative mods remains a thrilling prospect.
