Here's DOOM: The Dark Ages opening with Path Tracing in 4K

DOOM: The Dark Ages is receiving its Path Tracing update this week, and we got to check it out early, running on a GeForce RTX 5080 in 4K. Path Tracing, or Full Ray Tracing, uses cutting-edge technology to calculate realistic shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, global illumination, and more, covering everything related to in-game lighting.

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DOOM: The Dark Ages already features ray-tracing on all platforms, with developer id Software leveraging the technology for global illumination and even hit detection. The Path Tracing update, which introduces DLSS Ray Reconstruction support, improves the game's fantastic visuals and lighting to deliver a seamless, more immersive cinematic action experience.

As seen in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it's the little details that make DOOM: The Dark Ages so impressive with Path Tracing enabled. From how light from objects interacts with each other to how weapons look more like a part of the world in first-person, especially when you see things like fire and ominous red lighting reflected on the Slayer's shotgun.

Outside of the weapons looking more detailed and impressive, one of the most noticeable changes is reflections on shiny surfaces and water, and how the light affects objects with rough metallic surfaces - an effect absent in the base game.

Fire and other emissive lights, which can be seen everywhere in DOOM: The Dark Ages is also now cast on surrounding objects with Path Tracing, and the ray-traced global illumination of the base game is upgraded to now include light from the sun, moon, and other objects in the skybox - like, say, a giant glowing pentagram as seen in the game's opening level.

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Overall, DOOM: The Dark Ages' path tracing mode is another glimpse at the future of in-game visuals, and although more of the effects are subtle, the difference is still pretty big. After replaying through a few hours of the game, covering the early missions, what became apparent was just how much detail path tracing and DLSS Ray Reconstruction added to the different look and feel of each level or stage.

Foliage looks more realistic; even things like barrels, bricks, and shadows being cast from behind you look fantastic. And the more outlandish sci-fi meets gothic fantasy locales look even more otherworldly and strange.

Of course, path tracing in DOOM wouldn't be playable without DLSS and technologies like Ray Reconstruction and Multi Frame Generation. The following gameplay of the game's first mission with max settings and path tracing enabled was captured in 4K on a GeForce RTX 5080, which seems to be the sort of GPU you need to play at this resolution. With the Multi Frame Generation 3X setting, the game runs at a smooth 120+ FPS and feels great to play.

Check it out.