Ray Tracing: What it is and how it works

Video games are constantly evolving, always looking for new ways to immerse the player in increasingly realistic and immersive experiences. One of the latest innovations that has shaken the industry is the Ray Tracing or ray tracing, a rendering technique that promises to take graphical realism to a whole new level.

Imagine entering a game where shadows are cast naturally, reflections on surfaces like water or glass are surprisingly detailed, and lighting behaves so authentically that you can almost feel the warmth of the virtual sun on your skin. This is precisely what the Ray Tracing seeks to achieve, and its impact on the gaming experience is simply astonishing.

The secrets behind Ray Tracing

But how exactly does this technology work? In essence, the Ray Tracing is an algorithm that simulates the behavior of light in a virtual environment. Unlike traditional lighting techniques in video games, which tend to be approximations and visual tricks, ray tracing meticulously calculates how each ray of light interacts with objects in the scene.

Imagine a beam of virtual light starting from the game camera and traveling through the digital environment. When this ray encounters an object, the algorithm Ray Tracing determines how it is reflected, refracted or absorbed based on the properties of the material. These rays then continue on their path, bouncing from object to object, creating an incredibly realistic simulation of lighting.

Different types of Ray Tracing

There are several types of ray tracing, each with different levels of complexity and power requirements. Some of the most common are:

• Determination of hidden surfaces: This basic process does not include shadow or light effects in the animation, but helps determine which objects are visible from the camera's perspective.
• Shadow simulation: It uses direct light sources and hard shadows, but does not calculate reflection effects. This type of ray tracing adds depth and realism to scenes.
• Recursive ray tracing: In addition to direct light sources and hard shadows, this method uses ray tracing for mirror reflection with translucent or reflective objects, creating more sophisticated visual effects.
• Diffuse ray tracing: This type of ray tracing renders umbra/penumbra edges and soft shadows, in addition to direct illumination and refraction, resulting in more natural and realistic lighting.
• Path ray tracing: The most advanced lighting model, which includes and records visible and invisible light sources, reflections and refractions through illuminated objects, creating highly realistic shadow simulations according to the play of light.

The visual impact of Ray Tracing in video games

The result of all this complex calculation is an unprecedented level of visual realism. With the Ray Tracing, the shadows become softer and more precise, adapting perfectly to the shape of the objects that project them. Reflections on shiny surfaces, such as polished metal or puddles of water, show the surrounding environment with stunning clarity. And global illumination, which simulates how light bounces and spreads across the set, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere previously only possible in animated films.

But Ray Tracing It not only improves the visual quality of games, but also opens up new creative possibilities for developers. With this technology, artists and designers can create more complex and detailed environments, with lighting effects that were previously impossible to achieve in real time. From the dim light of a flickering candle to the dazzling rays of sunlight filtering through the foliage of a forest, the Ray Tracing allows for unprecedented creative freedom.

Ray Tracing on mobile devices

Ray tracing isn't just limited to high-end consoles and PCs. The latest advances in mobile technology have allowed smartphones and tablets to also enjoy the benefits of Ray Tracing. Chipsets like Samsung Exynos 2200’s most emblematic landmarks, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2 and the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 are already compatible with this technology, which means that mobile games are about to take a big leap in terms of graphical quality.

These powerful mobile chips feature specially designed GPUs to handle real-time ray tracing, such as Xclipse GPU on the Exynos 2200 or the Immortalis-G715 on the Dimensity 9200. With this capability, mobile game developers can create more immersive and realistic visual experiences, taking the graphical quality of mobile games to a level never seen before.

Some of the smartphones that already have ray tracing capabilities include:

• Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra (Exynos 2200)
• Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
• Vivo X90 Pro and iQOO 11 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
• Xiaomi 13 and Motorola Moto X40 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
• OnePlus Nord 5 and Vivo X90 Lite (Dimensity 9200)

As more mobile devices adopt chipsets compatible with Ray Tracing, players will be able to enjoy stunning graphics and realistic lighting effects in the palm of their hands.

The battle for Ray Tracing: AMD vs Nvidia

In the world of PC graphics cards, two technological giants are vying for the ray tracing crown: AMD y Nvidia. Both companies have developed their own Ray Tracing acceleration technologies, seeking to offer the best performance and compatibility with the latest games.

Nvidia was the first to release graphics cards with ray tracing capabilities, with its series GeForceRTX in 2018. These cards use dedicated RT cores to accelerate lighting and shadow calculations in real time. Additionally, Nvidia has developed a technology called DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which uses artificial intelligence to improve performance and image quality in games that support Ray Tracing.

For its part, AMD has responded with its own line of ray tracing accelerated graphics cards, the Radeon RX 6000. These cards use an architecture called RDNA2, which combines traditional shader cores with Ray Tracing acceleration units. Additionally, AMD has developed a technology called FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), which uses super-resolution techniques to improve performance and visual quality in supported games.

Although Nvidia had an early lead in terms of gaming support and Ray Tracing performance, AMD has been closing the gap with its latest offerings. Now, players have the option to choose between both brands based on their specific preferences and needs.

The challenges and future of Ray Tracing

Despite impressive advances in ray tracing technology, there are still some challenges to overcome. He Ray Tracing It is a computationally demanding technique, requiring significant processing power to run smoothly. This means that, for now, to fully enjoy the benefits of ray tracing, you need to have cutting-edge hardware, such as graphics cards. NVIDIA RTX o AMD Radeon RX, or the consoles PlayStation 5 y Xbox Series X / S.

However, as technology advances and hardware becomes more powerful and accessible, we are likely to see broader adoption of the Ray Tracing in the video game industry. Developers and studios are exploring creative ways to leverage this technique to create more impactful and immersive visual experiences. From adventure games to sports simulators, ray tracing has the potential to transform the way we perceive and immerse ourselves in virtual worlds.

Prepare for a new era of graphic realism

El Ray Tracing represents an exciting milestone in the evolution of video game graphics. As this technology is refined and becomes more accessible, we can expect to see games with a level of visual realism that we could only dream of before. Soft, detailed shadows, stunning reflections, and lighting that seems to take on a life of its own all combine to create immersive experiences that blur the line between virtual and real.

So get ready to immerse yourself in virtual worlds more captivating than ever. With the Ray Tracing As the new standard in video game graphics, we are on the verge of a visual revolution that promises to take us to places we have never before imagined. The future of gaming is bright, and ray tracing is the key to unlocking its full potential.

Marvel at the amazing details and let yourself be enveloped by the magic of the Ray Tracing. Video games will never be the same, and that is something we should celebrate. Prepare for a new era of graphic realism and immerse yourself in experiences that will challenge your senses and transport you to worlds beyond your imagination.