Minecraft's RTX makeover arrives in beta later this week

[Shawn Knight]

Bottom line: The familiar sandbox world of Minecraft is due for a massive visual overhaul later this week with the launch of the RTX Beta for Windows 10. Some will argue that Minecraft perhaps isn’t the best candidate for ray tracing or that other games like Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto V would have been a better fit. Then again, you also have to consider just how big Minecraft is – depending on which list you follow, Minecraft is either the first or second best-selling video game ever and remains incredibly popular to this day.

The long-awaited update adds fully path-traced rendering which enhances global illumination, reflections, shadows, atmospheric effects and more. In short, GeForce RTX GPU users are in for some seriously good eye candy, similar to the makeover that Quake II received last year.

Minecraft’s new RTX Beta also introduces physically-based materials. As Polygon recounts from an Nvidia briefing on Monday, standard Minecraft materials only have two properties – color and opacity. Physically-based materials, meanwhile, can have up to six. In addition to color and opacity, physically-based materials can emit light, look metallic, have roughness and have height (off the block’s surface).

At its core, the game also isn’t all that demanding in terms of processing power so even the slowest of RTX cards should be able to handle it without issue.

Minecraft with RTX Beta for Windows 10 launches on April 16. Nvidia recommends grabbing the Minecraft with RTX Game Ready Driver which will be available starting at 6 a.m. Pacific on April 15.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/84821-minecraft-rtx-makeover-arrives-beta-later-week.html

 

[Vulcanproject]

Interested in seeing performance on RTX cards.

The full path traced version was shown off on Xbox Series X, as 'proof' of its performance and especially ray tracing performance. Everyone got excited off the back of it, claiming the consoles would sport games chock full of RT effects.

However, it only ran 1080p, 30-60FPS was the claimed framerate. Not exactly mind blowing RT performance then for a console people expect native 4K to be a breeze for.

I would say that ray tracing performance on the next gen consoles is going to be extremely limited, much slower than even current RTX cards can achieve.

This demo might clue us in on that. I await the benchmarks with interest.

 

[Nobina]

Finally, people who bought RTX cards can finally say ray tracing paid off and is not, in fact, a meme.

 

[Evernessince]

However, it only ran 1080p, 30-60FPS was the claimed framerate. Not exactly mind blowing RT performance then for a console people expect native 4K to be a breeze for.

That's right around what the RTX demo was running at as well. Just saying.

 

[Vulcanproject]

That's right around what the RTX demo was running at as well. Just saying.

We have seen a few versions of this. RT shader based version mods in 2019, then it seems Mojang got in on it with Nvidia later in the year to implement hardware acceleration for RTX cards in the engine, as a demo. Now Microsoft have greenlit a full official version and worked towards full path tracing with DXR, which would make it vendor agnostic.

This presumably is the same DXR technology they demoed on Series X, which of course has an AMD GPU at it's heart.

Should be the best idea yet of ray tracing performance on console. Nvidia said they wanted 1080/60 on a mere RTX2060, which is apparently the max resolution anyway on the beta. We'll see what it can do.

 

[GreenNova343]

Seems to me we're maybe getting into an apples vs. oranges debate here:
-- article is specifically talking about the Windows 10 version of the game, not one of the various console versions. So bringing up how a console demo performed doesn't seem all that relevant.
-- I didn't think the XBox Series X console, let alone any current console for that matter, used nVidia GPUs (in fact, XBox hasn't had an nVidia GPU in it since the original pre-360 model, basically equivalent to the GeForce 3 TI200/500 series). So RTX would be completely pointless, since that's an nVidia-exclusive feature at this point in terms of dedicated hardware acceleration, & wouldn't even be a feature in the console in question.

 

[pencea]

Seems to me we're maybe getting into an apples vs. oranges debate here:
-- article is specifically talking about the Windows 10 version of the game, not one of the various console versions. So bringing up how a console demo performed doesn't seem all that relevant.
-- I didn't think the XBox Series X console, let alone any current console for that matter, used nVidia GPUs (in fact, XBox hasn't had an nVidia GPU in it since the original pre-360 model, basically equivalent to the GeForce 3 TI200/500 series)..

Playstation 3 used Nvidia's Geforce GPU. It's GPU called RSX was basically the GTX 7800 equivalent .

 

[GreenNova343]

Playstation 3 used Nvidia's Geforce GPU. It's GPU called RSX was basically the GTX 7800 equivalent .

The first comment mentioned XBox, not Playstation. But even so, I'd like to see the evidence that nVidia's custom variant of the 7800GTX from 2005 -- a GPU that's 10 generations behind the GPUs that actually introduced RTX -- is actually going to have RTX support. Not to mention it's from a console that hasn't even been manufactured for what, 3 or 4 years now?

And again, the article is about the Windows 10 version, not any potential console version. Since the only current or planned console that even uses nVidia GPUs is the Nintendo Switch -- & that GPU has 1/4 the CUDA cores of the comparable GTX 960 from 5 years ago & well before RTX was announced let alone released -- it makes zero sense to even bring up consoles when talking about nVidia RTX features in a PC game.

 

[Vulcanproject]

Seems to me we're maybe getting into an apples vs. oranges debate here:
-- article is specifically talking about the Windows 10 version of the game, not one of the various console versions. So bringing up how a console demo performed doesn't seem all that relevant.
-- I didn't think the XBox Series X console, let alone any current console for that matter, used nVidia GPUs (in fact, XBox hasn't had an nVidia GPU in it since the original pre-360 model, basically equivalent to the GeForce 3 TI200/500 series). So RTX would be completely pointless, since that's an nVidia-exclusive feature at this point in terms of dedicated hardware acceleration, & wouldn't even be a feature in the console in question.

DXR is DXR. DirectXRaytracing. It's one of the later features sets to be added to DX12 specification.

Majong worked with Nvidia to create something specifically for RTX cards before, Microsoft have now prompted the studio to integrate DXR support for various areas here directly into the Minecraft engine update.

That's why it runs on their DXR enabled RDNA2 AMD console, and that's why it'll be comparable to RTX cards, and that's why we'll have hardware accelerated ray tracing on both AMD and Nvidia cards by the end of this year.

 

[GreenNova343]

DXR is DXR. DirectXRaytracing. It's one of the later features sets to be added to DX12 specification.

Majong worked with Nvidia to create something specifically for RTX cards before, Microsoft have now prompted the studio to integrate DXR support for various areas here directly into the Minecraft engine update.

That's why it runs on their DXR enabled RDNA2 AMD console, and that's why it'll be comparable to RTX cards, and that's why we'll have hardware accelerated ray tracing on both AMD and Nvidia cards by the end of this year.

Which shows you didn't read the article:

In short, GeForce RTX GPU users are in for some seriously good eye candy, similar to the makeover that Quake II received last year.

Minecraft’s new RTX Beta also introduces physically-based materials. As Polygon recounts from an Nvidia briefing on Monday,

Minecraft with RTX Beta for Windows 10 launches on April 16. Nvidia recommends grabbing the Minecraft with RTX Game Ready Driver which will be available starting at 6 a.m. Pacific on April 15.

There's more going into this product than just whatever DXR features are available in DX12 for AMD cards...& from nVidia's press release (which was linked in the article, BTW), they're doing much more than just ray-tracing, & apparently attempting to take full advantage of nVidia-exclusive hardware to do so. Note, for example, that the page on their website specifically mentions DLSS 2.0 (something most definitely not available to any PC that doesn't have an RTX 20 series GPU).

 

[Vulcanproject]

Which shows you didn't read the article:

There's more going into this product than just whatever DXR features are available in DX12 for AMD cards...& from nVidia's press release (which was linked in the article, BTW), they're doing much more than just ray-tracing, & apparently attempting to take full advantage of nVidia-exclusive hardware to do so. Note, for example, that the page on their website specifically mentions DLSS 2.0 (something most definitely not available to any PC that doesn't have an RTX 20 series GPU).

I read the article. I read more than this article here. https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360041035092-Minecraft-NVIDIA-RTX-FAQ

One of the biggest clues is right at the start: 'you will need to be playing on Windows 10 PC and using a supported DirectX ray tracing capable GPU like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX GPUs.'

DXR capable, like an RTX GPU. Not: 'you'll need an Nvidia RTX GPU.' Interesting wording dontcha think? Later it states what THIS beta supports, because that's all is currently available. Next question, again stating you need a DXR capable Win 10 device. Not: 'only runs on Nvidia RTX cards'.

Then this:
WILL RAY TRACING BE COMING TO NON-NVIDIA HARDWARE FOR MINECRAFT?

We do not have any news to share at this time.

Not 'No'. I mean come on sherlock, what else do you want to see? Nvidia is currently the only game in town, it's a bizarre question and answer to include if there were no alternative any time soon!

Everything is shouting this is not an exclusive Nvidia implementation. DLSS 2.0 is but that doesn't mean everything else is, and should not be claimed as evidence. Since it's an entirely separate feature on Nvidia's hardware and software. Just because some games had Nvidia physx acceleration didn't mean AMD cards had no physics in that game!

It's an engine overhaul. It's clearly intended to be platform agnostic when AMD deliver RDNA2 to the masses. The version that Microsoft demonstrated ported onto Series X should clue you up on that! Not an Nvidia transistor in sight.

Yes the Windows version might have somewhat different settings and slightly different features at this point in time, just as other games have various quality settings.

But if you think that Microsoft and Majong at spending all their time altering the core engine of the game to only run on Nvidia hardware then you'll be severely mistaken.

It's pretty obvious the alterations are to work on their Microsoft DXR API, on their AMD console and thus AMD RT discrete graphics hardware when it is launched later this year too.

 

[neeyik]

DXR capable, like an RTX GPU. Not: 'you'll need an Nvidia RTX GPU.' Interesting wording dontcha think?

Note that Pascal-based Nvidia cards support DXR too, but yes - the wording of the information is such that it already precludes RDNA 2 and Ampere.

 

[Vulcanproject]

Note that Pascal-based Nvidia cards support DXR too, but yes - the wording of the information is such that it already precludes RDNA 2 and Ampere.

The fact that the Series X demo even exists is all the evidence anyone needs to seen the engine now has a DXR render pipeline making it RDNA2 compatible.

We know that demo is based on the Gamescom code from 2019, which was shown by Nvidia. Digital Foundry have explicitly stated this.

It's the same thing.

 

[pencea]

The first comment mentioned XBox, not Playstation Not to mention it's from a console that hasn't even been manufactured for what, 3 or 4 years now?

Yeah but you said

let alone any current console for that matter, used nVidia GPUs

Which when worded like that implies Any, not just Xbox. Hence why I mentioned Playstation 3.

 

[GreenNova343]

I read the article. I read more than this article here. https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360041035092-Minecraft-NVIDIA-RTX-FAQ

One of the biggest clues is right at the start: 'you will need to be playing on Windows 10 PC and using a supported DirectX ray tracing capable GPU like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX GPUs.'

DXR capable, like an RTX GPU. Not: 'you'll need an Nvidia RTX GPU.' Interesting wording dontcha think? Later it states what THIS beta supports, because that's all is currently available. Next question, again stating you need a DXR capable Win 10 device. Not: 'only runs on Nvidia RTX cards'.

Then this:
WILL RAY TRACING BE COMING TO NON-NVIDIA HARDWARE FOR MINECRAFT?

We do not have any news to share at this time.

Not 'No'. I mean come on sherlock, what else do you want to see? Nvidia is currently the only game in town, it's a bizarre question and answer to include if there were no alternative any time soon!

Everything is shouting this is not an exclusive Nvidia implementation. DLSS 2.0 is but that doesn't mean everything else is, and should not be claimed as evidence. Since it's an entirely separate feature on Nvidia's hardware and software. Just because some games had Nvidia physx acceleration didn't mean AMD cards had no physics in that game!

It's an engine overhaul. It's clearly intended to be platform agnostic when AMD deliver RDNA2 to the masses. The version that Microsoft demonstrated ported onto Series X should clue you up on that! Not an Nvidia transistor in sight.

Yes the Windows version might have somewhat different settings and slightly different features at this point in time, just as other games have various quality settings.

But if you think that Microsoft and Majong at spending all their time altering the core engine of the game to only run on Nvidia hardware then you'll be severely mistaken.

It's pretty obvious the alterations are to work on their Microsoft DXR API, on their AMD console and thus AMD RT discrete graphics hardware when it is launched later this year too.

But you would be ***wrong***.

Tom's Hardware article

Nvidia lists a GeForce RTX card as the minimum requirement for the Minecraft RTX beta. That's not to say that you can't run the beta without an RTX card, but if you do you'll end up with regular Minecraft—just running on a beta server. If you want ray tracing, or even the new RTX resource packs, you have to have at least an RTX 2060. Sorry.

So, Nvidia and Microsoft have explicitly disabled DXR on GTX support for the Minecraft RTX beta. Or more specifically, a check is made for an RTX GPU and if one is not present, you can't enable the ray tracing effects. That could change with the final non-beta release, and we anticipate Minecraft RTX will work on AMD's future ray tracing enabled GPUs, but that will have to wait for another day—and possibly a change in name. Again, based on what we've seen with Quake II RTX with its 'path tracing,' we imagine Minecraft RTX would run at sub-20 fps for non-RTX hardware, even at 720p.

TLR version: Minecraft RTX Beta is specifically designed for RTX-series GPUs. Other GPUs will run it, but it will look identical to regular Minecraft.

 

[Vulcanproject]

But you would be ***wrong***.

Tom's Hardware article



[QUOTE}So, Nvidia and Microsoft have explicitly disabled DXR on GTX support for the Minecraft RTX beta. Or more specifically, a check is made for an RTX GPU and if one is not present, you can't enable the ray tracing effects. That could change with the final non-beta release, and we anticipate Minecraft RTX will work on AMD's future ray tracing enabled GPUs, but that will have to wait for another day—and possibly a change in name. Again, based on what we've seen with Quake II RTX with its 'path tracing,' we imagine Minecraft RTX would run at sub-20 fps for non-RTX hardware, even at 720p.

TLR version: Minecraft RTX Beta is specifically designed for RTX-series GPUs. Other GPUs will run it, but it will look identical to regular Minecraft.

Wrong about what? The quote you provide says 'We anticipate Minecraft RTX will work on AMD's future ray tracing enabled GPUs'

That was the point I made. I already said it's obviously only going to work on RTX right now because it's the only game in town. ?

Later it states what THIS beta supports, because that's all is currently available.

(RTX cards)

It's pretty obvious the alterations are to work on their Microsoft DXR API, on their AMD console and thus AMD RT discrete graphics hardware when it is launched later this year too.

You seem a bit confused about all this. I stated that this beta only supports RTX cards, and I stated the same thing Tom's have done there. Is there anything else I can clarify once again for you?

 

[GreenNova343]

An indeterminate future. Has AMD even provided a date that they would support these nVidia features? No, they haven't. It could be 3 months down the road, it could be 3 years, or it could be never.

The fact is, as of today, anyone without an RTX card will see no change in Minecraft with this beta release compared to the old Minecraft.

 

[neeyik]

Okay, that's enough on the matter now, folks.