Why Ray Tracing Matters For PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

PC gamers have been able to play with it for a little while, but ray tracing has finally come to consoles with the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. But what exactly is ray tracing and should you really care about it?

Ray tracing has been around for PC gamers for some time, but with the power behind the Xbox Series X|S and the PS5, it’s now an option for console gamers too. But what exactly is ray tracing?

In the video above, we walk you through the basics of the tech that's on everyone's minds right now. In simple terms, ray tracing casts out and calculates linear rays of light between in-game light sources and the player’s eye. It's used to simulate realistic reflections, refractions, and shadows, which can create a more immersive and photorealistic gaming experience, but at the sacrifice of your game’s frame rate. We discuss the use of ray tracing in recent games such as Watch Dogs: Legion, which has come under fire for how it's handled the lighting system. 

Games that currently have plans to introduce ray tracing on console systems include Halo Infinite, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, NBA 2K21, Devil May Cry Special Edition on Xbox Series X/S, and Demon’s Souls Remastered. For more on these games, keep your eyes peeled to GameSpot.