Image Highlights the Impact of Ray-Tracing in GTA 5

GTA 5’s PC version got a significant visual boost in 2025, thanks to a graphical update that introduced ray tracing technology to enhance the game’s lighting. This advancement brought about a more dynamic and realistic depiction of light and depth, although it stirred mixed reactions among fans. While some players appreciate the enriched aesthetic details, others feel the heightened brightness alters the original charm of GTA 5’s visual style.

A devoted GTA 5 fan recently showcased a side-by-side image comparison that highlights the contrast between the game’s lighting with ray tracing both on and off. The difference is striking, clearly illustrating how such technology can dramatically transform a game’s visual experience. Despite being over a decade old, GTA 5 underwent an upgrade a few years back for newer console generations, incorporating ray-traced shadows and reflections. However, it wasn’t until 2025 that PC users received an update that took these improvements even further with the addition of ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion. Although feedback has been varied, there’s little denying that the update has undeniably refreshed the game’s appearance.

On Reddit, a user named Ivaylo_87 posted side-by-side images revealing how light affects a hall where Franklin, one of GTA 5’s protagonists, stands. Without ray tracing, light pours through an archway, harshly illuminating the ground but leaving the hall mostly in shadow. In contrast, with ray tracing enabled, the scene transforms: the harshness of the light in the archway softens, the hallway gains a more vivid illumination, and the lighting takes on a reddish hue, casting a warm glow over the scene. The doorways and recesses stand out more distinctively, thanks to the subtlety of indirect lighting.

Nevertheless, the community’s opinion is divided. Many players praise the revamped lighting as stunning, while some argue it accentuates the polygonal angles of structures like archways, making them look less natural. Others criticize the brightness, feeling that even if it is more true-to-life, it detracts from their enjoyment. The original lighting of GTA 5 was deliberately crafted to give a distinctive ambiance, and some purists believe that ray tracing disrupts this aesthetic, potentially for the worse.

Adding ray-traced lighting introduces a new layer of depth and realism, as it visually processes how light interacts with various surfaces and its subsequent impact. This technique can refresh older games, providing a visual overhaul, though some players have grown fond of static lighting’s role in crafting narrative-specific atmospheres. As games increasingly adopt ray tracing, players might find themselves enjoying this technology more in new titles designed with it from the start, rather than retrofitting older games and possibly marring their classic vibe.