The RTGI 0.17.0.2 release is a significant historical update for the Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) shader, developed by Pascal Gilcher (also known as Marty McFly). This specific version was released on October 30, 2020, as part of the early beta development for the shader suite. Core Technology
RTGI is a state-of-the-art post-processing shader for the ReShade universal injector. It brings realistic lighting to games by physically simulating how light interacts with the environment through:
Diffuse Global Illumination: Simulates real-time interactive bounce lighting, allowing light to illuminate areas not directly hit by a primary light source.
Ambient Occlusion: Enhances contact shadows and depth perception between objects.
Screen Space Ray Tracing: It utilizes the game's depth buffer data to calculate lighting paths, making it compatible with non-RTX video cards. Key Features of Version 0.17.0.2
While this version was part of a broader beta cycle, it was notable for several implementation details:
ReShade Compatibility: This version is often paired with ReShade 4.9 or similar versions from that period to ensure stability.
Game Versatility: It was widely tested and used in popular titles like GTA V, Skyrim SE, and Minecraft Java Edition to provide a "next-gen" visual look before official ray tracing updates were common.
Hardware Independence: Unlike official hardware-accelerated ray tracing, RTGI 0.17.0.2 operates solely on depth data, allowing older GPUs to achieve similar visual results. Distribution and Legacy
Access: This specific build was distributed primarily through Pascal Gilcher’s Patreon, where it was offered as a benefit for supporters in the early development phase.
Evolution: Since 2020, the shader has evolved into the iMMERSE Pro suite, featuring more advanced algorithms like ReSTIR and improved denoising. rtgi 0.17.0.2 release
Mainstream Adoption: The technology behind RTGI was eventually adapted by NVIDIA for use in their NVIDIA FreeStyle and Ansel driver modules as "SSRTGI". RTGI 0.17.0.2 Release! - Patreon
RTGI 0.17.0.2 Release: Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Path Tracing Update
The world of PC gaming aesthetics has just taken another leap forward with the release of RTGI version 0.17.0.2. Created by Pascal Gilcher (better known as Marty McFly), the Screen Space Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) shader has become the gold standard for adding modern lighting effects to older titles and enhancing the visual fidelity of new ones via Reshade. This latest point release focuses on refining the massive technological leaps introduced in the 0.17 branch, offering better performance, fewer artifacts, and more accurate light bounce calculations. What is RTGI?
RTGI is a post-processing shader that brings path-traced lighting to almost any game that allows depth buffer access through Reshade. Unlike standard game lighting, which often relies on pre-baked shadows or simple ambient occlusion, RTGI calculates how light bounces off surfaces in real-time. This results in natural color bleeding, realistic shadows in corners, and a sense of "grounding" for objects that traditional rendering methods often miss. Key Improvements in 0.17.0.2
The move from the 0.16 versions to the 0.17 architecture represented a complete rewrite of the shader’s core logic. The 0.17.0.2 update serves as a critical stabilization and optimization patch for that new foundation. Enhanced Denoising Logic
One of the biggest hurdles for real-time ray tracing is "noise"—the grainy flickering seen when there aren't enough light rays to fill a scene. The 0.17.0.2 release introduces a more sophisticated temporal denoiser. It better tracks pixels across frames, significantly reducing the "ghosting" effect that sometimes occurs when a character moves quickly across a dark room. Improved Surface Physics
Light now interacts more realistically with different material types. The update refines the way light scatters on rough versus smooth surfaces. You will notice that metallic objects have a more distinct "sheen" from indirect light sources, while matte surfaces like cloth or stone absorb and diffuse light with greater accuracy. Optimization and Performance
Ray tracing is notoriously heavy on hardware. This release includes several back-end optimizations to the ray-marching algorithm. Users on mid-range hardware will notice slightly more stable frame times, especially in complex scenes with multiple light sources. The shader is now more efficient at discarding rays that don't contribute to the final image, saving precious GPU cycles. Better Compatibility with Reshade 5.x+
As Reshade continues to evolve, RTGI must keep pace. Version 0.17.0.2 is built to take full advantage of the latest Reshade features, including improved depth buffer detection and better handling of UI masking. This ensures that the lighting doesn't "bleed" over your game’s HUD or menus as often as it did in previous iterations. How to Install RTGI 0.17.0.2
For those looking to upgrade their visual experience, the process remains straightforward: The RTGI 0
Support the Creator: RTGI is currently hosted via Pascal Gilcher’s Patreon. You will need to be a supporter to download the latest binaries.
Install Reshade: Ensure you have the latest version of Reshade installed for your specific game.
Copy the Files: Place the shader (.fx) and header (.fxh) files into the "reshade-shaders/Shaders" folder of your game directory.
Set Up Depth Buffer: In-game, open the Reshade menu and ensure your depth buffer is correctly aligned so the shader can "see" the 3D space. Conclusion
The RTGI 0.17.0.2 release isn't just a minor incremental update; it's a testament to the ongoing refinement of real-time lighting on the PC. By smoothing out the edges of the 0.17 rewrite, Marty McFly has provided gamers with a tool that makes decade-old classics look like modern, ray-traced masterpieces. Whether you are a virtual photographer or just someone who wants their games to look as immersive as possible, this update is an essential addition to your modding toolkit.
The RTGI 0.17.0.2 release is a significant historical update for the ReShade Ray Traced Global Illumination shader, created by Pascal Gilcher (also known as Marty McFly).
As part of the qUINT shader suite, this version focused on refining the path-tracing logic used to simulate realistic light bounces and shadows in games that do not natively support hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Key Highlights & Features
Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI): Models both diffuse and specular lighting by simulating how light physically interacts with objects in a scene.
Hardware Independency: Unlike native RTX, this shader operates on depth buffer data, making it compatible with non-RTX GPUs.
Flicker Reduction: Earlier versions often struggled with flickering in high-contrast areas; this release cycle introduced workarounds and patches to stabilize the lighting channel. If you’re on 0
Temporal Stability: Improved the consistency of light over time to minimize the "wobbling" effect common in screen-space ray tracing solutions. ReShade RTGI | Ray Traced Global Illumination
At a glance, 0.17.0.2 is not a feature-packed revolution. The major 0.17.x branch introduced a new unified shader model and improved temporal stability. Version 0.17.0.2 is a hotfix and polish release. According to the official changelog:
If you’re on 0.17.0.1, this is a stability and bug-squashing patch. If you’re coming from 0.16.x or earlier, the jump is more substantial.
RTGI is famously "plug-and-play," but to get the most out of version 0.17.0.2, you shouldn't just load it and leave the settings at default. Every game is different. Here are the key sliders you need to adjust:
1. Trace Distance
This dictates how far light can bounce.
2. Smoothness vs. Trace Quality
In 0.17.0.2, temporal smoothing is excellent, meaning you can lower your Trace Quality without noticing a massive drop in visual fidelity.
Trace Quality to 0.5 (the lowest) and bumping Smoothness up to 0.7 or 0.8. You will gain a massive performance boost with very little visual penalty.3. Bounce Count
This is the secret sauce of RTGI. It controls how many times light "bounces" off surfaces.
Test system: Ryzen 5 5600X, RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB DDR4, 1080p resolution.
| Game | RTGI Off (FPS) | RTGI 0.16 (Balanced) | RTGI 0.17.0.2 (Balanced) | Improvement | |------|----------------|------------------------|----------------------------|--------------| | Fallout 4 | 72 | 51 | 58 | +13.7% | | Grand Theft Auto V | 98 | 68 | 77 | +13.2% | | Resident Evil 2 Remake | 86 | 61 | 69 | +13.1% | | Skyrim SE (heavily modded) | 55 | 37 | 43 | +16.2% |
The largest gains are seen in CPU-limited scenes, where the shader’s reduced overhead allows for smoother frame times.
The modding and visual enhancement community is buzzing today with the official rollout of RTGI 0.17.0.2. This latest iteration of the popular ReShade shader—commonly known as Realtime Global Illumination or the "Marty McFly Mod"—arrives as a significant maintenance and feature refinement update, despite its modest version number bump.
For the uninitiated, RTGI is a screen-space ray tracing shader that approximates realistic light bouncing, indirect lighting, and ambient occlusion in hundreds of DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 games. Version 0.17.0.2 is not merely a bug-fix patch; it represents weeks of optimization, better accuracy, and expanded compatibility.
EnablePostPass is true), SweetFX, and most other ReShade shaders (MXAO, Clarity, etc.).