Nvidia's RTX Remix tool is now in open beta – try it now to give your favorite old games a graphical makeover

Nvidia AI modding tool
(Image credit: Nvidia)

Back in 2022, Nvidia unveiled its massive resource platform for the PC modding community, called Nvidia RTX Remix. Now the tech giant has launched it for open beta, giving modders a massive toolkit that includes full ray tracing, Nvidia DLSS, Nvidia Reflex, modern physically-based rendering (PBR) assets, and generative AI texture tools.

Nvidia RTX Remix is built on its self-titled Nvidia Omniverse, an end-to-end platform for remastering DirectX 8 and 9 games with a fixed function pipeline. Modders can remaster a growing list of older PC games by using several tools in the Remix platform that allow for capturing game assets and then enhancing them with AI tools, as well as using ray tracing and DLSS to further enhance and update those graphics.

According to Nvidia, Remix is made of two components: an application that creates lights and adds remastered assets into a game scene, and a runtime for capturing game scenes and injecting the remastered assets back into the game at playback. Nvidia has demonstrated the power of its platform already with its Portal with RTX remaster, while the modding community created Portal: Prelude RTX and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind remaster. Orbifold Studios is also working on the Half-Life 2 RTX: An RTX Remix Project, a community-led remaster.

graphical improvements thanks to RTX Remix

(Image credit: Nvidia)

This platform could be a double-edged sword 

It's fair to ask, though, if applying this powerful platform is always a good thing. For titles like Morrowind, which frankly looks awful, the Nvidia RTX Remix toolset does an incredible job of remastering the classic PC title. Even Half-Life 2 could benefit from a visual face-lift if done well to preserve the atmosphere of the original game.

And that brings me to the following issue: for titles like Portal, getting the RTX Remix treatment would be detrimental to the game. As previously pointed out, Portal 2 already looks stunning thanks to excellent art direction and smart design. To simply slap on more graphical updates without considering how they’re applied and whether the game even needs it is a waste of time at best and actively detrimental at worst.

You could even argue that this tech could negatively impact the older titles that would benefit the most from these improvements. Older games often made the most of graphical limitations to create iconic atmospheres and if new technology is applied without a sense of how to best recreate the original atmosphere, then you might end up with a remastered title that looks impressive but also doesn't resemble the original work.

I’m curious to see how well the modding community will continue to utilize this technology. We’ve already seen genuinely great efforts like recreating Morrowind in Skyrim’s graphical engine or Fallout: London. While I’ll side-eye corporate efforts like the Portal 2 remaster, I’ll remain hopeful for fan-led projects created by people with a thorough understanding of what makes classic games so good in the first place.

You might also like

Allisa James
Computing Staff Writer

Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

Read more
Image of Cyberpunk 2077 running on RTX 5090 at Nvidia event
I saw Nvidia's new DLSS 4 in action on the RTX 5090 and it's a true game changer – here's why
Matt Hanson holding up the RTX 5070
I haven't been this excited about PC gaming in decades – and it's all thanks to my early time with Nvidia's RTX 5070
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Nvidia, good on you - RTX 4000 series GPUs will receive DLSS Frame Generation enhancements this month
PhysX 5.0
Nvidia retiring PhysX for its RTX 5000 GPUs has made some gamers furious - but I don't think it's a complete dealbreaker
Image of the Resident Evil 4 remake & the RTX 4080 Super
I've spent 250 hours in the Resident Evil 4 remake using an RTX 3080 Ti - the upgrade to an RTX 4080 Super and Asus' 49-inch OLED ultrawide is worthwhile
Image of Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs
AMD RX 9070 could struggle to compete with Nvidia 50-series GPUs according to latest tech demo
Latest in Computing
Google Gemini Robotics
Gemini just got physical and you should prepare for a robot revolution
ChatGPT Parenting
I use ChatGPT to help with parenting - here's 5 prompts you can use AI to keep the kids entertained
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Gemini on a smartphone.
I used Gemini AI to declutter my Gmail inbox and saved myself 5 hours a week – here’s how you can do the same
Two Android phones on a green and blue background showing Google Messages
Struggling with slow Google Messages photo transfers? Google says new update will make 'noticeable difference'
A mockup of the possible Apple M3 Ultra logo
Performance isn't the only reason you should buy Apple's M3 Ultra Mac Studio - it's reportedly one of the most power-efficient processors too
Latest in News
Google Gemini Robotics
Gemini just got physical and you should prepare for a robot revolution
Lilo & Stitch Official Trailer
Stitch crashes into earth and steals our hearts with the first trailer for the live-action Lilo & Stitch
GTA 5
GTA Online publisher Take-Two is gunning for a black market that’s basically heaven for cheaters
Y2K cast looking shocked
Y2K has a streaming release date on Max, so you can witness the technology uprising at home
The Discovery+ homepage
Discovery+ just got a big update to its streaming app that makes it more like Max – here are 5 great new features to try
Two Android phones on a green and blue background showing Google Messages
Struggling with slow Google Messages photo transfers? Google says new update will make 'noticeable difference'