Visual Effects in the World of Video Games: Major Trends and Technologies
In the world of video games, visual effects have become an integral part of the gaming experience. Originally intended to give a more realistic look, they have evolved into a key element that makes games more immersive. In this article, BG Games invites you to take a look at the major trends and technologies in visual effects for games and explore how they are changing the gaming industry.
Realistic Graphics
Every year, graphics in video games are becoming more and more photorealistic. Modern games are able to recreate details that previously seemed impossible. This includes high-resolution textures, realistic modeling of lighting and effects, and advanced ray tracing techniques.
Relatively recent games such as “Cyberpunk 2077” and “The Last of Us Part II,” are amazing in their graphics, transporting players to detailed worlds with stunning realism!
Ray Tracing Technologies
Ray tracing is a technology that allows you to simulate the path of light in the game world. It helps to more accurately model reflections, refractions, and shadows, making images even more realistic. This technology has become available to a wide range of developers thanks to graphics cards with hardware support for ray tracing.
For example, “Minecraft” is one of the first games (yes, Carl, exactly Minecraft) to implement ray tracing, and transformed its pixel blocks into more realistic and colorful objects.
Special effects and physics
Special effects in games are being pushed to a new level. This includes dynamic physics, particles, water and fire effects that react to the surroundings. They add an extra level of realism and interaction to the game world.
A great example is “Red Dead Redemption 2” with its incredible world detail and realistic environment physics, where years after release, players still encounter details that are missing from many games released today.
VR and AR Technology
“Half-Life: Alyx” is one of the best VR games that impresses with its outstanding graphics and virtual reality effects, where the immersion is so realistic and detailed that one can look at the tool table for hours on end.
Virtual and augmented reality open up new possibilities for visual effects in games. VR allows players to immerse themselves in virtual worlds, while AR adds interactive elements to the real world. These technologies require outstanding visualization to achieve the full experience.
Real Time and Interactive Effects
Time is becoming an important aspect of visual effects. Games utilize technology to create effects that change in real time based on events in the game. This can include changes in weather, time of day, and even character states.
Games are increasingly incorporating cycles of day and night, which not only affects visuals but also gameplay. This creates a variety of scenarios and brings up different challenges and possibilities.
“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” features a dynamic time-of-day system that affects NPC behavior and monster distribution.
Interactive effects that react to the player’s actions are becoming more common. These can include footprints, destructible circles, or changes in scenery after combat.
For example, in “Battlefield 2042”, you can see the shot marks and destruction that is left on the battlefield, as well as the footprints of vehicles, and many other factors that will visually create a more immersive world.
Advances in Machine Learning
With the development of machine learning and deep neural networks, the possibilities for creating smarter and more realistic visuals in games become even more impressive. These technologies make it possible to create dynamic worlds and characters with stunning realism. Ongoing advances in machine learning technologies are making it possible to create games that respond to player actions in a more sensitive and predictable way.
Visual effects in games continue to improve, moving closer to photorealism every year and providing players with incredible visual experiences. As artificial intelligence advances, they become more dynamic and interactive, making games not only beautiful, but also intelligent. The future of the gaming industry promises even more immersive and realistic visuals that will truly be hard to take your eyes off!
