Does GTA 5 Have Ray Tracing?
Are you wondering if ray tracing has made it to Grand Theft Auto yet? Check out this guide for the answer to the question 'does GTA 5 have ray tracing', alongside details on how to enable it.
Considering the number of graphical updates the game has received, we're not surprised that many players are wondering 'does GTA 5 have ray tracing?' While ray tracing might be the hot new thing when it comes to graphics, GTA has previously not implemented it into their flagship, long-running title. So, to find out all the details about a GTA 5 ray tracing implementation, make sure to carry on reading down below.
- Find out how to hire bodyguards in GTA online with this handy guide.
Does GTA 5 Have Ray Tracing?
Thankfully, GTA 5 ray tracing is finally a thing, with the latest patch implementing the highly demanding and sought-after graphical feature.
Coming with the 1.64 update, which also brought the GTA Online Los Santos Drug Wars single-player expansion, players will now be able to spruce up their game even further and take an additional step towards hyper-realistic graphics.
Previously, you would only have been able to achieve a primitive form of ray tracing through mods on PC, which were both not as good as the real thing, and also even more demanding performance-wise.
Unfortunately though, ray tracing is currently only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X, so anyone on PC, Series S, or the previous gen consoles is left out at this current time. It should arrive on PC in the near future, but it is unlikely to make its way to less-powerful machines.
There is no news about ray tracing coming to Red Dead Redemption 2 though, but we've all got our fingers crossed that it is next on Rockstar's to-do list.
How To Enable Ray Tracing In GTA 5
If you were wondering how to enable ray tracing in GTA 5, it is thankfully a very simple process. All you need to do is switch to the Fidelity or Performance RT modes in the game's graphics settings and it will automatically be enabled.
This does cause the game's framerate to be reduced to 30 FPS, but with all those shiny new reflective surfaces you might not even notice. Performance RT is also available, which does take some compromises, but aims to maintain at 60 FPS if you can't stand the lower framerate.
So, that's all you need to know if you were wondering 'does GTA 5 have ray tracing?', alongside how to enable it in-game. If you're tired of waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6 and want something new though, make sure to have a read of our games like Grand Theft Auto 5 list.
About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
