Introduction
In 2024, real-time ray tracing will become a standard in graphics and substantially change how graphics are rendered. Ray tracing accurately simulates how light behaves in the real world, leading to ultra-realistic graphics in games and other applications. As ray tracing hardware and software continue improving, developers will leverage its capabilities to create stunningly lifelike visuals.
Ray Tracing Fundamentals
What is Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing is a rendering technique that traces the path of light rays as they bounce around a scene. It simulates the physical behavior of light to achieve photorealistic lighting effects. Rays are shot from the camera into the scene, bouncing off objects and creating reflections, shadows, refraction and global illumination effects.
How Ray Tracing Differs from Rasterization
Currently, most real-time graphics use a technique called rasterization. Rasterization converts 3D models into 2D pixels on the screen. While fast, rasterization uses approximations for lighting and shadows.
In contrast, ray tracing calculates lighting, shadows and reflections by simulating light rays. This enables physically accurate graphics unmatched by rasterization. However, ray tracing requires substantially more computing power.
Benefits of Ray Tracing
Some key benefits of ray tracing:
- Realistic lighting and shadows
- Accurate reflections and refraction
- Photorealistic global illumination
- Ability to simulate complex light interactions
- Improved image quality overall
Ray Tracing Progress So Far
Ray Tracing Cores in GPUs
In 2018, Nvidia introduced RTX GPUs containing dedicated ray tracing cores. This allowed real-time ray tracing in games at acceptable frame rates. AMD later followed with ray tracing support in RDNA 2 GPUs.
Having specialized ray tracing hardware significantly accelerates ray tracing performance. More ray tracing cores will be added in future GPU generations.
Early Ray Traced Games
A few games used ray tracing right after the launch of RTX GPUs. These include Battlefield V, Metro Exodus and Control. They showcased real-time ray traced reflections, shadows and global illumination.
Performance was initially poor, with frame rates dipping drastically when ray tracing was enabled. With driver updates and optimizations, the situation has improved.
Emerging Ray Tracing Ecosystem
Game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity now support ray tracing integrations. Microsoft and Sony include ray tracing capabilities in DirectX and the Playstation 5.
This growing ecosystem will make it easier for developers to add ray tracing effects in more games. As more ray tracing content becomes available, consumer adoption of ray tracing GPUs will accelerate.
Ray Tracing in 2024
Widespread Adoption of Ray Tracing GPUs
By 2024, ray tracing GPUs will be common among gamers. Current GPU shortages will ease and prices will normalize. Each new GPU generation will deliver better ray tracing performance.
Eventually, ray tracing support will trickle down from high-end GPUs to mainstream and budget models. Both Nvidia and AMD will compete on ray tracing performance and efficiency.
Mature Ray Tracing Ecosystem
In 2024, the ray tracing ecosystem will be much more mature and optimized. Developers will have several years experience with real-time ray tracing under their belt. Engine and platform support for ray tracing will become robust and complete.
This maturity will make it easy for most games to integrate ray tracing. Developers can focus on leveraging ray tracing for better visuals rather than struggling with implementation issues.
Ray Tracing Becomes the Standard
With widespread hardware support and a mature ecosystem, ray tracing will become the standard in real-time graphics. Rasterization will still be used, but ray tracing will handle all the computationally intensive lighting, shadows and reflections.
Developers will consider ray tracing support a baseline feature for PC and console titles. Gamers will come to expect ray traced graphics as a normal part of the gaming experience.
Photorealistic Graphics in Games
By accurately simulating light transport, ray tracing enables photorealism previously impossible in real-time. With ray tracing in 2024, light, shadows and materials in games will be virtually indistinguishable from reality.
Subtle lighting effects like light leakage, indirect illumination and area shadows will make game worlds more immersive. Cinematic techniques like depth of field, ambient occlusion and motion blur will further enhance visuals.
The Future with Ray Tracing
Ray tracing in 2024 sets the stage for more ambitious uses of the technology. Here are some future possibilities:
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Real-time path tracing – Path tracing is a more complete ray tracing algorithm that could approach movie CGI quality in games.
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Virtual reality – Accurate lighting and reflections are crucial for immersive VR environments. Ray tracing will drive greater realism.
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Simulation and product design – Ray tracing for accurate material simulations and Visualizations.
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New rendering techniques – Researchers are exploring methods like signed distance fields, light fields and neural rendering that synergize well with ray tracing.
Ray tracing began a graphics revolution in 2018. By 2024, it will have transformed real-time rendering. The future with ray tracing looks incredibly exciting for both developers and gamers. Truly photorealistic real-time graphics are just around the corner.
