Modder showcases Need for Speed Underground 2 with RTX Remix Path Tracing

Is RTX Remix the future of classic game remasters?

On YouTube a modder called “Uncle Burrito” has showcased a work in progress version of Need for Speed Underground that utilises Nvidia’s RTX Remix technology, revealing what the classic racer would look like with path tracing. 

Sadly, the mod is currently in a buggy state, with visual glitches and other issues, many of which stem from the tricks that developers used to make the original game run well on classic console and PC hardware. One example of this is the despawning of light emitting streetlights whenever they are not on camera, an issue that causes frequent and distracting lighting changes. Beyond that, Need for Speed Underground 2 has not been updated with PBR textures, which means that the game is not properly accounting for the reflectivity and surface roughness of objects in-game. 

In time, “Uncle Burrito” plans to replace Need for Speed Underground 2’s textures with new ones that will improve the game’s visuals further, and make the game’s RTX remix version a lot more attractive.

For the most part, this new mod is designed to highlight the lighting and shading improvements that RTX remix and provide, but more work is needed before Need for Speed Underground 2 can be showcased in its fullest RTX Remix glory. We wish Uncle Burrito luck and good fortune as they endeavour to remaster Need for Speed Underground 2 with Nvidia’s RTX Remix tools.

You can join the discussion on Need for Speed Underground 2 with RTX Remix on the OC3D Forums.