Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Detailed Overview of Ray Tracing Options on PC

January 25, 2025

Ubisoft has provided additional technical insights into the ray tracing capabilities of its upcoming game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, following the release of the official PC system requirements. The game introduces three distinct ray tracing modes, each tailored to enhance visual fidelity while maintaining accessibility for a wide range of hardware configurations.

Selective ray tracing is employed exclusively within the Hideout portion of the game. This area is central to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, offering an unprecedented level of player customization. Unlike the open-world environments, where pre-calculated global illumination is sufficient, the Hideout requires a real-time approach due to the dynamic changes driven by player actions.

To achieve this, ray tracing is used for real-time global illumination, providing enhanced lighting accuracy and detail in the customizable Hideout environment. For players using older GPUs without hardware ray tracing support, Ubisoft has developed a proprietary software-based ray tracing solution. This innovative approach ensures that older, pre-RTX GPUs can still deliver a competent visual experience, reflecting the developer’s commitment to broad hardware compatibility.

In the open-world gameplay, ray tracing is disabled to optimize performance and ensure smooth gameplay, regardless of hardware specifications.

Standard ray tracing leverages the hardware ray tracing capabilities of modern GPUs to compute real-time global illumination. This mode enhances lighting realism, creating lifelike interactions between light sources and game environments. Players can expect significant improvements in overall lighting quality, adding depth and realism to their surroundings.

This mode strikes a balance between visual enhancement and performance, making it an optimal choice for players looking to enjoy improved visuals without compromising frame rates on supported GPUs.

Extended ray tracing represents the most advanced implementation of the technology in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This mode utilizes hardware ray tracing to compute both real-time global illumination and reflections. By adding realistic reflections to the game world, this mode offers a highly immersive visual experience. Surfaces such as water, glass, and metallic objects will accurately reflect their surroundings, adding a new layer of detail to the game’s aesthetics.

While this mode demands the highest level of GPU performance, it provides a cutting-edge visual experience for players equipped with high-end hardware.

Ubisoft emphasizes that all ray tracing options are entirely customizable, ensuring players have control over their visual and performance preferences. Whether opting for Selective Ray Tracing in the Hideout, Standard Ray Tracing for enhanced lighting, or Extended Ray Tracing for the most immersive experience, players can tailor the game to suit their hardware capabilities and desired gameplay experience.

Official PC System Requirements

This level of flexibility reflects Ubisoft’s intent to make Assassin’s Creed Shadows accessible to a diverse audience, from those with the latest GPUs to those using older, less powerful systems. The proprietary software-based ray tracing solution further demonstrates the developer’s efforts to include players with older hardware in the Assassin’s Creed experience.

The introduction of three ray tracing modes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows underscores Ubisoft’s commitment to technical innovation and player inclusivity. By providing scalable options for both cutting-edge and legacy hardware, the game ensures a visually impressive experience without alienating any segment of the PC gaming community. With these advancements, Assassin’s Creed Shadows sets a new benchmark for customization and graphical fidelity in the series.

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Jani Dushman
Jani Dushman

I'm Jani, a dedicated Tech Writer and Reviewer at Xiaomitoday. With a passion for exploring and dissecting the latest in technology, my mission is to bring you insightful and comprehensive reviews that empower your decision-making in the fast-evolving world of gadgets and tech.

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