Notable Bug Fixes
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: rtgi 0.17.0.2 release
To get the most out of this release, follow these step-by-step setup instructions: Prerequisites
One of RTGI's most significant achievements is its . By operating solely on depth data, it is fully compatible with non-RTX video cards and has no inherent hardware feature requirements. This democratises ray tracing, allowing millions of gamers with older or non-RTX GPUs to experience the visual benefits of ray-traced lighting. Notable Bug Fixes As Reshade continues to evolve,
The principles established in 0.17.0.2 set the stage for future breakthroughs. While 0.17.0.2 optimized existing code, later updates in 2025 introduced entirely new algorithms. In June 2025, after a six-month hiatus, Pascal Gilcher unveiled what he called the "biggest upgrade yet" for RTGI. This update achieved a significant advance in ray tracing technology: its author claims it vastly outperforms Nvidia's ReSTIR GI in quality terms. ReSTIR GI represents the "state of the art for Global Illumination effects", but Gilcher developed a proprietary sampling algorithm that avoids many of its drawbacks, such as chroma noise and broken denoiser variance estimation.
To appreciate the updates in 0.17.0.2, it helps to understand the core architecture of RTXGI, which relies on a decoupled, two-step structure: How to Install RTGI 0
The RTGI 0.17.0.2 release was a masterclass in optimisation and ingenuity. It took a revolutionary shader and made it more performant, more accessible, and more reliable without sacrificing the stunning visual quality that users had come to expect. For anyone looking to breathe new life into their favourite games with realistic lighting, RTGI remains an indispensable tool, and version 0.17.0.2 stands as a testament to Pascal Gilcher's extraordinary skill as a rendering engineer and mathematician.
Access the RTGI shaders through the official Patreon or authorized distribution points.
Adjust settings such as Ray Length and Amount to balance visual fidelity with performance based on the specific game environment.
While the RTGI 0.17.0.2 update vastly optimized the performance footprint compared to older alpha releases, ray tracing remains heavily taxing on system hardware. Quality Preset Graphic Accuracy Approximate Performance Cost Ideal Hardware Level Basic Ambient Occlusion & Soft Global Illumination 10% – 15% Frame Rate Drop Mid-range legacy GPUs High Full Diffuse Lighting Bounces & Secondary Radiosity 15% – 25% Frame Rate Drop Modern multi-core GPUs Very High / Ultra Maximum Ray Count, Precise Specular & Micro-shadows 30%+ Frame Rate Drop Top-tier high-end desktop GPUs