How to Turn On Ray Tracing on Minecraft Bedrock: A Step-by-Step Guide
In May 2020, Microsoft released a long-awaited update to Minecraft Bedrock that enabled ray tracing – a cutting-edge technology that simulates realistic lighting and reflections. This innovative feature enhances the gaming experience, bringing a new level of visual fidelity to Minecraft’s blocky world. But how do you turn it on?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to enable ray tracing on Minecraft Bedrock. We’ll also cover some basics on what ray tracing is, its requirements, and what to expect from the technology.
What is Ray Tracing?
Before diving into the step-by-step process, it’s essential to understand what ray tracing is and how it works.
Ray Tracing is a rendering technique that simulates realistic lighting and reflections. It works by virtually shooting rays from the camera eye, tracing their path until they intersect with objects in the scene. Each object then contributes to the light and color that reaches the screen.
Here’s a breakdown of the rendering process:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Camera shoots out rays ( virtual light rays ) from the eye. |
| 2 | Rends rays hit objects and scatter or absorb light accordingly. |
| 3 | Light bounce around, interacting with environments. |
| 4 | Receiving ray, recombining color and intensity, rendering accurate reflections and shadows. |
Now that you have a basic understanding of ray tracing, let’s get started with turning it on!
System Requirements
To run Minecraft Bedrock with ray tracing, your system should meet the following requirements:
| Components | Requirements |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-2300 or AMD FX6300 or equivalent |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 590 or equivalent |
| RAM | At least 8 GB of RAM |
Enabling Ray Tracing
Here’s the step-by-step process to turn on ray tracing on Minecraft Bedrock:
Step 1: Ensure You Have the Latest Version
Make sure your Minecraft Bedrock edition is updated to v1.16.20.24 or higher.
Step 2: Access Game Settings
Launch the Minecraft Bedrock edition and navigate to Settings > Graphics
Step 3: Enable Ray Tracing
Find the Ray Tracing toggle switch and Toggle it to ON
That’s it! Ray tracing is now enabled in Minecraft Bedrock. Start exploring your blocky world with advanced lighting and reflections.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Rendering issues? Try reducing graphical settings or updating your GPU drivers.
- Stuttering or lag? Consider reducing render distance, chunks, or player rendering.
- Ray Tracing Not Working? Ensure that you’re running the latest version, and check your system meets the minimum requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions with answers to help you get started:
- Is Ray Tracing Only Compatible with Windows?
No, Minecraft Bedrock with ray tracing works on Windows, Xbox, and Mac (with some limitations) and supports the following NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards. Refer to the Minecraft Bedrock documentation for specific details.
- How does Ray Tracing Affect System Performance?
Ray Tracing can put additional load on your system, increasing frame rates, especially in intensive environments. To minimize performance impact, turn down graphics settings or reduce your play resolution.
- Are There Specific Optics Requirements for Ray Tracing?
No, normal glasses and vision should be fine, as ray tracing doesn’t pose any known vision hazards.
- Is Ray Tracing Limited to New Worlds?
Yes, for now, ray tracing requires creating a new world; you cannot enable it on existing worlds without saving and re-loading a backup.
- Can You Customize Ray Tracing Settings?
Currently, no; these settings are still being refined for further optimization.
- Which Objects are Supported for Ray Tracing?
Minecraft Bedrock only supports standard Minecraft blocks. Ray tracing will not work with custom mods.
- How Can I Turn off Ray Tracing?
Just toggle off the Ray Tracing switch within Game Settings.
- How Much Will Ray Tracing Impact Your Overall Minecraft Experience?
Minimal if set up correctly. Ray Tracing won’t disrupt your gameplay.
Now that you know how to enable and set up ray tracing on Minecraft Bedrock, go ahead and experience a whole new level of visual excitement!
Remember to share this guide with your friends and fellow gamers who are eager to try Minecraft’s innovative ray tracing feature. Join the Minecraft community on Xbox, PC, or Nintendo Switch to chat with other enthusiasts about this topic.