'Forza Horizon 5': Stunning Game's Ray Tracing Feature May Disappoint Fans

"Forza Horizon 5," with its stunning graphics, was one of the highlights of the recent Xbox and Bethesda E3 2021 showcase. However, it looks like a feature of the game might disappoint some fans.

The developers of the upcoming title "Forza Horizon 5" recently shared several new details about the game on its official website, and the heavily anticipated racing video game seems to be demanding when it comes to resolution. According to the site, the game's frame rate and resolution targets are 4K at 30 FPS on Xbox Series X and 1080p at 30 FPS on Xbox Series S.

During the recent Xbox and Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, Microsoft mentioned "Forza Horizon 5" will support ray tracing, but the feature is only available when browsing cars in Forzavista, and not when users are playing the game.

"You can also expect powerful, all-new graphical features like HDR captures of the vibrant Mexican sky, sweeping vistas, and an unparalleled attention to detail, " the developer said on the game's official website. "Available in 4K 30 FPS on the Xbox Series X (1080p 30 FPS on Xbox Series S) with an optional 60 FPS performance mode, and ray tracing added to cars in Forzavista, you will be immersed in the open world of Horizon like never before."

The game admittedly looks really good even without ray tracing, but it is strange that Microsoft, the team behind the DirectX Raytracing API, is not incorporating ray tracing on its first-party titles.

"Forza Horizon 5" is a gorgeous game based on what Microsoft has shown. Playground Games, Microsoft's in-house studio, revealed that it has used photogrammetry to provide precision accuracy in the game. "Check out this geology detail, implemented with precision accuracy using photogrammetry data captured on location atop an active Mexican Volcano," Mike Brown, creative director, mentioned during the game's reveal at E3 2021.

"The entire world has been recreated at this level of detail," he added.

Many games also use photogrammetry data, but it is something Microsoft habitually uses to develop more immersive game worlds.

"Forza Horizon 5" is set in Mexico and releases on Nov. 5. The game is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10, Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Android phones and tablets via Xbox Cloud Gaming.