Classics like Vice City and Tomb Raider are being given the RTX Remix treatment

Nvidia’s RTX Remix is already proving popular with modders, as notable games are being given a new, shiny lease on life. As a result, we’re getting to see things like GTA, Max Payne, and early Tomb Raider games get something of a spit polish, re-entering our collective consciousness.

I have DSO Gaming to thank for this. A number of recent posts from them show that RTX Remix is able to put a bit of a modern spin on some older releases, such as the aforementioned ones.

In one article, we’re treated to screenshots from a remixed version of Vice City – complete with Path Tracing – from user PC_Focus. We also have the above footage from turnpike, whose take on the original Max Payne gives the antihero’s coat a nice sheen. Then there’s skurtyyskirts, with a remixed version of the first Tomb Raider installment, showing Lara in a new light (literally).

The gaming equivalent of “rewind!”

Given that Nvidia is due to release its RTX Remix toolkit into open beta on January 22, we can expect to see more of this sort of thing happening. The above examples were done in the current version of the modding software, which means they might be improved upon even more at some point.

We’ve also seen the effect of it working in games like Half-Life 2, so it’s not just suitable for ultra retro titles (although HL2 is turning 20 this year. Yikes, indeed).

Being able to inject modern techniques into classics, including ray tracing, image upscaling through the likes of DLSS, and more doesn’t change how these games look or play overall. It gives them a fresh coat of paint and updated visuals, but they aren’t remakes or even remasters. What they are, however, is a glance at just how far gaming technology has come over the years.