Players eagerly awaitingWorld of Warcraft: Shadowlandsnow have another reason to try the expansion’s upcoming beta. In a new announcement, Nvidia revealed thatits latest GeForce driverwould support ray tracing in the upcomingWoW Shadowlandsbeta. Its post also promised to enhance game graphics for over 20 other new titles by boosting light rendering and by extension, improving how reflections and shadows operate.
Although more casual gamers might better recognize ray tracing from console game demonstrations for both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, PC players have already been enjoyingthe graphic enhancements of ray tracing. While discussing the new driver’s capabilities, Nvidia teased a new partnership with Blizzard to incorporate ray tracing into its next beta.
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In a new update to the GeForce website, Nvidia announced that its latest GeForce Game Ready 452.06 Driver would support both newly released titles likeATotal War Saga: TroyandMicrosoft Flight Simulator,impending titles like the upcomingTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterremasters, and of course, the latestWorld of Warcraftexpansion. However, inShadowlands’case, Blizzard is actually testing ray tracing in the beta, and allWorld of Warcraftplayers will need to do is opt into the beta on its website after installing the driver.
However, this announcement is likely no surprise to eagle-eyedWoWplayers, who might have spotted the ray-tracing optionsin theShadowlandsalpha settings.These mid-development settings primarily focused on making shadows more realistic. And although Nvidia did not provide more specific details, one might be able to expect improved lighting graphics, since the ray tracing option also promises to include “additional light sources” for better “precision” with the shadows. Moreover, according to the update, ray tracing will be available to more players than ever, since the 452.06 driver will support eight new types of gaming displays.
Nvidia and Blizzard’s partnership also mirrors the context surroundingMinecraft’sfree ray tracing update,which allowed players to see enhanced sunlight effects and higher-quality reflective surfaces in water and glass. In this instance, Microsoft similarly announced that it was teaming up with Nvidia during a Gamescom event in 2019.
Outside of the new graphical advancements, Blizzard has been leading up tothe Shadowlands release with new pre-expansion events.Hopefully,World of Warcraft’s latest addition continues the excitement that has been building over the past year.
World of Warcraftis available now for PC. TheWorld of Warcraft Shadowlandsdoes not have a confirmed release date.
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