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A fraction of the most popular PC games over the past year use hardware-level ray tracing, which is far fewer than I'd predict just 24 months ago
AppWizard
February 14, 2026

A fraction of the most popular PC games over the past year use hardware-level ray tracing, which is far fewer than I’d predict just 24 months ago

Ray tracing technology has seen a decline in prevalence among popular new game releases as developers prioritize optimized performance due to hardware challenges. In the past year, only a few titles have utilized ray tracing, such as Monster Hunter Wilds for basic reflections and Borderlands 4 using software-based Lumen from Unreal Engine 5. Indie games are increasingly favored for their accessibility and lower development costs, often avoiding high-performance techniques. Unreal Engine 5 has led to a resurgence of software-based ray tracing, though hardware ray tracing can provide better results at the cost of performance. Upcoming titles like Elden Ring: Nightreign and Battlefield 6 have opted out of hardware ray tracing to focus on gameplay performance. Many award-winning games have also chosen not to implement hardware-based ray tracing, emphasizing gameplay experience over graphical fidelity. Despite its reduced prominence, ray tracing remains a valuable tool for enhancing gaming experiences when used thoughtfully. The potential for ray tracing to improve visual storytelling continues as hardware becomes more accessible.
Just when you think there's no room for shooters to innovate, here's one where your health is literally your framerate
AppWizard
January 7, 2026

Just when you think there’s no room for shooters to innovate, here’s one where your health is literally your framerate

FPS Quest links player health to framerate, causing framerate drops as the character takes damage. Players can upgrade weapons and manipulate the game environment to boost framerate and health, such as replacing a 3D gun with a 2D sprite or altering level geometry. One upgrade can increase framerate by 10 fps at the cost of removing structural columns, which eliminates cover. This mechanic encourages a balance between alterations and game stability.
Hypixel Studios releases the PC system requirements for its Minecraft-lookalike Hytale, and it's the most comprehensive breakdown I've seen in a long time
AppWizard
December 4, 2025

Hypixel Studios releases the PC system requirements for its Minecraft-lookalike Hytale, and it’s the most comprehensive breakdown I’ve seen in a long time

Hytale is a voxel-based sandbox game with detailed hardware requirements that include minimum, recommended, and 'streamer' specifications. The minimum requirements allow for casual gameplay, while the recommended requirements enhance performance for a smoother experience. The streamer requirements are high-end specifications aimed at content creators for optimal performance. An Intel HD Graphics 630 can achieve approximately 30–34 FPS at 1080p on low settings, while an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA RTX 5080 can sustain around 400 FPS at 3840×1440 resolution while recording gameplay. The game is expected to require 100 GB of storage, and its early access launch is anticipated in January 2026.
Cronos: The New Dawn PC Performance Analysis
AppWizard
September 5, 2025

Cronos: The New Dawn PC Performance Analysis

Bloober Team will release its third-person action horror game, Cronos: The New Dawn, using Unreal Engine 5. Benchmarking tests were conducted on a setup with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and various high-end graphics cards. The game offers customizable graphics settings and supports technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3.1, and Intel XeSS 2.0. At 1080p with Epic Settings, the top five graphics cards achieved over 60 FPS. At Native 1440p, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 maintained fluid performance, while no GPU reached 60 FPS at Native 4K. Lowering settings from Epic to High can improve performance by 18–25%. The game features impressive visuals but has minor imperfections and fewer stutters without Hardware Lumen enabled. It outperforms Silent Hill 2 Remake in stability and aligns with typical Unreal Engine 5 performance expectations.
Nvidia's DLSS is a game-changer for PC gaming - here's how it works
AppWizard
May 4, 2025

Nvidia’s DLSS is a game-changer for PC gaming – here’s how it works

Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) was introduced in 2018 with the GeForce RTX 20-series graphics cards and has evolved into its fourth iteration, becoming a standard expectation for modern PC games. DLSS enhances gameplay by upscaling lower-resolution images, improving frame rates, and enabling advanced graphical effects without sacrificing performance. The latest version, DLSS 4, debuted with the GeForce RTX 50-series in 2025 and features a new transformer model to enhance image quality. DLSS includes Frame Generation, which creates additional frames to improve gameplay fluidity, and Multi-Frame Generation, which can produce up to three additional frames per real frame. DLSS significantly reduces the performance impact of ray tracing, allowing gamers to enjoy high-quality graphics without compromising frame rates. Over 500 games and applications currently support DLSS technology.
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