Rtgi 0.17.0.2 Apr 2026

For modders and graphics enthusiasts, this update delivers a tangible reduction in visual noise and a slight performance boost. In an era where native ray tracing often tanks performance for minimal gain, RTGI remains the smart, lightweight alternative for breathing new life into older titles.

With the release of , the mod receives another careful layer of polish. This isn't a ground-up rewrite, but rather a "quality of life" and stability update that reinforces why RTGI remains the gold standard for screen-space global illumination. What is RTGI? For the uninitiated, RTGI is not full path tracing. It is a screen-space ray marcher . It analyzes the pixels currently visible on your monitor, traces rays into the depth buffer, and bounces lighting information back to the camera. The result is ambient occlusion that feels more natural, color bleeding (e.g., a red carpet making a white ceiling look slightly pink), and contact shadows that ground objects in their environment. rtgi 0.17.0.2

Unlike native ray tracing, RTGI works on virtually any DX9, DX10, DX11, or DX12 game, and it runs on both Nvidia and AMD cards—though it demands a hefty performance cost. This specific build is a minor revision of the 0.17.0 branch, focusing on stability and accuracy. Here are the key changes: 1. Refined Temporal Stability One of the biggest complaints with older screen-space GI was "flicker" or "boiling" noise. Version 0.17.0.2 introduces improved temporal reprojection logic. The shader now holds onto history frames more intelligently, significantly reducing the shimmering on fine details (like grass or chain-link fences) while you move the camera. The trade-off? A slightly higher ghosting risk on extremely fast-moving objects, but the balance is better than ever. 2. Improved Color Bounce Accuracy Previous versions sometimes oversaturated indirect lighting. This update tweaks the ray hit weighting , ensuring that color bleeding looks physically plausible. Red bricks now tint adjacent grey concrete with a soft, natural hue rather than a harsh magenta glow. 3. Performance Micro-Optimizations While there is no magic "free FPS" button, Pascal has optimized the shader's early-out logic. In scenes with low depth complexity (e.g., open fields or skyboxes), RTGI will now skip unnecessary ray steps faster. Users report a 5-8% performance uplift in GPU-bound scenarios compared to 0.16.x versions. 4. UI and Preset Compatibility The ReShade UI sliders have been re-labeled for clarity. "Ray Length" is now "Trace Distance," and "Bounce Count" is capped more realistically (max 3 bounces, as 4+ introduced diminishing returns and noise). Presets from 0.16.x will load, but you may need to manually adjust the new "Temporal Blend Factor." The "Screen-Space" Caveat It is vital to understand that no update can fix RTGI’s fundamental architectural flaw: screen-space dependence . Because the shader only sees what your camera sees, light information from off-screen objects will disappear when you look away. If a bright green neon sign is behind you, RTGI cannot bounce that green light onto the wall in front of you. When you spin around, the lighting will "pop" into existence. For modders and graphics enthusiasts, this update delivers

Docked half a point only for the unavoidable screen-space artifacts. Disclaimer: RTGI is currently distributed via Pascal Gilcher’s Patreon. Always support the developer if you use their work regularly. This isn't a ground-up rewrite, but rather a

The world of real-time graphics modding moves fast, but few tools have had the lasting impact of RTGI (Ray Traced Global Illumination) by Pascal Gilcher. For years, this ReShade shader has brought a taste of next-gen lighting to games that were never designed for it.