Uploaded August 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why is real-time raytracing the future of lighting in game development? Because it allows artists to create more realistic visuals while simplifying the content preparation process. Global illumination is a technique made possible with real-time ray tracing. It simulates the way light scatters and bounces in real life.
Earlier this year, 4A Games released Metro Exodus on PC. It’s one of the first titles on the market to feature global illumination. The results are stunning; sunlight looks photorealistic, further immersing players in Metro’s richly textured world. This is a 12-minute excerpt from 4A's GDC 2019 talk, which covers global illumination from an artist’s point of view.
Why is real-time raytracing the future of lighting in game development? Because it allows artists to create more realistic visuals while simplifying the content preparation process. Global illumination is a technique made possible with real-time ray tracing. It simulates the way light scatters and bounces in real life.
Earlier this year, 4A Games released Metro Exodus on PC. It’s one of the first titles on the market to feature global illumination. The results are stunning; sunlight looks photorealistic, further immersing players in Metro’s richly textured world. This is a 12-minute excerpt from 4A's GDC 2019 talk, which covers global illumination from an artist’s point of view.
