NVIDIA and Microsoft Unveil Neural Shading, Shaping the Future of Gaming

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NVIDIA’s Game-Changing Announcement Ahead of GDC

Today, nVidia dropped some exciting news just ahead of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) that’s sure to get gamers and developers buzzing. They’ve launched some enhancements to their NVIDIA RTX neural rendering technologies. In a partnership with Microsoft, NVIDIA is set to introduce neural shading support in a Microsoft DirectX preview coming this April. This means developers will soon have access to the AI Tensor Cores found in NVIDIA Geforce RTX GPUs, allowing them to supercharge neural networks right within a game’s graphics pipeline. Talk about a game-changer!

A New Era for Graphics Programming

Neural shading is poised to revolutionize how graphics programming works. Imagine combining the power of AI with traditional rendering techniques to not only boost frame rates but also enhance image quality while using fewer system resources. Sounds pretty incredible, right? Shawn Hargreaves, the Direct3D development manager at Microsoft, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “This will advance the future of graphics programming by enabling neural rendering across the gaming industry.” With the unlocking of Tensor Cores on NVIDIA RTX, developers are set to create richer, more immersive experiences on Windows.

Neural Shaders: Bringing Worlds to Life

So, what’s the big deal about NVIDIA RTX Neural Shaders? Well, they allow developers to train and deploy tiny neural networks directly within shaders. This capability opens the door to generating textures, materials, lighting, and even volumetric effects—all while dramatically improving game performance and interactivity. The result? A level of immersion that players have only dreamed of until now.

Earlier this year at CES, NVIDIA introduced the RTX Kit, a comprehensive suite of neural rendering technologies designed to help developers build AI-enhanced, ray-traced games with jaw-dropping geometric complexity and photorealistic characters. Now, at GDC, they’re expanding this powerful lineup, adding Microsoft DirectX support and plugins for Unreal Engine 5.

What’s Coming for Developers?

The upcoming neural shading support in the DirectX 12 Agility software development kit preview is a game-changer for developers. They’ll gain access to RTX Tensor Cores, which will help accelerate the performance of applications powered by RTX Neural Shaders. And for those working with Unreal Engine, there’s even more good news. Developers will soon be able to dive into RTX Kit features like RTX Mega Geometry and RTX Hair through the experimental NVIDIA RTX branch of Unreal Engine 5. This means they can create assets with stunning detail and fidelity, delivering cinematic-quality visuals in real time.

Experience the Power of NVIDIA’s Latest Tech

If you’re curious about what all this tech can do, check out NVIDIA’s updated “Zorah” technology demo. It showcases incredibly detailed scenes filled with millions of triangles, complex hair systems, and cinematic lighting—all rendered in real time. This demo leverages the latest advancements in neural rendering, including:

– ReSTIR Path Tracing
– ReSTIR Direct Illumination
– RTX Mega Geometry
– RTX Hair

And let’s not forget, the first neural shader, the Neural Radiance Cache, is now available in RTX Remix. With all these advancements, the future of gaming is looking more immersive than ever. Are you ready to experience it?

Background Information

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About Microsoft:

Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Redmond, Washington, USA, is a technology giant known for its wide range of software products, including the Windows operating system, Office productivity suite, and cloud services like Azure. Microsoft also manufactures hardware, such as the Surface line of laptops and tablets, Xbox gaming consoles, and accessories.

  

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About nVidia:

NVIDIA has firmly established itself as a leader in the realm of client computing, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in graphics and AI technologies. With a deep commitment to enhancing user experiences, NVIDIA's client computing business focuses on delivering solutions that power everything from gaming and creative workloads to enterprise applications. for its GeForce graphics cards, the company has redefined high-performance gaming, setting industry standards for realistic visuals, fluid frame rates, and immersive experiences. Complementing its gaming expertise, NVIDIA's Quadro and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards cater to professionals in design, content creation, and scientific fields, enabling real-time ray tracing and AI-driven workflows that elevate productivity and creativity to unprecedented heights. By seamlessly integrating graphics, AI, and software, NVIDIA continues to shape the landscape of client computing, fostering innovation and immersive interactions in a rapidly evolving digital world.

  

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Event Info

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About CES:

CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, is an annual event held in Las Vegas, Nevada, organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). With a history dating back to 1967, it has become the world's premier platform for unveiling and exploring the latest innovations in consumer electronics and technology. Drawing exhibitors ranging from industry titans to startups across diverse sectors, including automotive, health and wellness, robotics, gaming, and artificial intelligence, CES transforms Las Vegas into a global tech hub, offering a glimpse into the future of technology through a wide array of showcases, from startup-focused Eureka Park to cutting-edge automotive and health tech exhibitions.

  

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Technology Explained

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DirectX 12: DirectX 12 is a set of advanced graphics and multimedia technologies developed by Microsoft for use in the computer industry. It is the latest version of the DirectX API, which is used to create and run applications that use 3D graphics, audio, and video. DirectX 12 is designed to improve the performance of games and other applications that use 3D graphics, audio, and video. It also provides support for new features such as tessellation, multi-threading, and asynchronous compute. DirectX 12 is used in a variety of applications, including gaming, video editing, and virtual reality. It is also used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. DirectX 12 is an important technology for the computer industry, as it allows developers to create more immersive and realistic experiences for their users.

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Geforce: Geforce is a line of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by Nvidia. It is the most popular GPU used in the computer industry today. Geforce GPUs are used in gaming PCs, workstations, and high-end laptops. They are also used in virtual reality systems, artificial intelligence, and deep learning applications. Geforce GPUs are designed to deliver high performance and power efficiency, making them ideal for gaming and other demanding applications. They are also capable of rendering high-resolution graphics and providing smooth, realistic visuals. Geforce GPUs are used in a variety of applications, from gaming to professional workstations, and are the preferred choice for many computer users.

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Tensor Cores: Tensor Cores are a type of specialized hardware designed to accelerate deep learning and AI applications. They are used in the computer industry to speed up the training of deep learning models and to enable faster inference. Tensor Cores are capable of performing matrix operations at a much faster rate than traditional CPUs, allowing for faster training and inference of deep learning models. This technology is used in a variety of applications, including image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous driving. Tensor Cores are also used in the gaming industry to improve the performance of games and to enable more realistic graphics.

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Unreal Engine 5: Unreal Engine 5 is a powerful game engine released in 2022 that allows creators to design incredibly realistic graphics with tools that are accessible to a wider range of developers. It achieves this through features like Nanite, which renders vast amounts of detail, and Lumen, a system that simulates lighting in real-time.

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