Does the PS5 have ray tracing?

You may be wondering if ray tracing is supported by PS5, and you wouldn’t be alone!

Playing games with ray tracing takes the graphics to a whole new level. Historically it has been more associated with PC gaming. Naturally then, many console gamers are now interested in whether the PS5 can support the ray tracing.

The answer is a bit more complicated than you might think, but don’t worry, we’ve got everything you need to know.

Does the PS5 have ray tracing?

In short, yes, the PS5 has ray tracing, but that doesn’t mean you’ll see it everywhere.

When the PS5 was announced the new and improved CPU and GPU for enhanced graphics and ray tracing were a major selling point. Sony placed real emphasis on the improvement in graphics with lifelike shadows and reflections promised, and 120 Hz supported on 4K displays. The reality has been a bit different from the promises though.

First off you have to check whether the game you are playing has been developed with ray tracing. We had a look at the top 5 most popular PS5 games right now, and whether they included ray tracing.

Here are the results:

1. Elden Ring – Not right now, Elden Ring does not currently have ray tracing.
2. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart – Yes, Ratchet and Clank has ray tracing.
3. Spider-Man: Miles Morales – Yes, Spider-Man: Miles Morales has ray tracing.
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – No, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla does not currently have ray tracing.
5. Deathloop – Yes, Deathloop has ray tracing.

As you can see, just because PS5 supports ray tracing, that does not mean that every game you run on it will play with photo realistic lighting. Even with games that have ray tracing included, ray tracing may only be available when playing in Quality mode.

Something else to consider is the screen you are playing on. The game could have the most realistic graphics ever and would still come out unrealistic if your TV can’t keep up. Fortunately, we’ve had a look for you at what the best TVs are for PS5.

What is ray tracing?

So, what actually is ray tracing? Ray tracing is an exciting new technique to render light effects in extremely realistic detail. It manages this by simulating the trajectory of light when it interacts with people, environments and objects.

In real life, all light is reflected in some capacity when it comes into contact with an obstacle. The texture of the surface the light impacts will determine in what way the light refracts. A smooth surface will reflect the light at the same angle it hit it. A more rough, bumpy surface will reflect light more randomly.

By utilising this information, ray tracing simulates this effect in game. The net effect of this is that light appears to have more volume and texture in game, rather than just being brighter.

The only downside to this extremely realistic rendering is that it takes a lot for a PC to keep up with it. Until the release of the PS5, ray tracing was mostly consigned to films and was very rarely seen in games. With the arrival of the PS5, though, that has all changed and more and more games are including ray tracing in their graphics.

At the end of the day, the PS5 has ray tracing capabilities. But it’s still down to a game-by-game basis whether you’ll actually get to experience it. Fortunately, more and more games are incorporating the technique into their graphics. Take a look to see if your favourite games: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, The Finals, or Sons of the Forest have ray tracing if you’re eager to get started experiencing the super realistic light effect for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can PS5 do 4k ray tracing?

In short, no. 60fps with 4k with ray tracing is the sort of level only the really expensive graphics cards can reach. If you want ray tracing in 4k try the RTX 3090 or the RTX 3090 Ti. PS5 can manage 60fps with 4k without ray tracing enabled however.

Do PS4 games look better on PS5?

In short, yes (mostly). PS5 has Game Boost technology that makes many PS4 games run much better on the PS5. The higher frame rate capacity of the PS5 means that many games run much smoother. Examples of PS4 games Playstation recommends to try on PS5 include The Last of Us Part II, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and God of War. However, the graphics themselves will not change between consoles.