Minecraft for Windows 10's official ray tracing update has left beta and is out now Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Minecraft for Windows 10's official ray tracing update has left beta and is out now Two free RTX-enabled worlds coming too. News by Matt Wales Reporter Updated on 8 Dec 2020 18 comments Eight months after its initial beta launch, Mojang and Nvidia's free raytracing update for Minecraft's Windows 10 edition has officially launched for all players. You'll need an RTX-enabled graphics card (perhaps easier said than done) to take advantage of Minecraft's official ray tracing update, and those suitably equipped gain access to a special physically based rendering texture pack that, explains Mojang, "interplays with the ray-traced effects to further enhance the experience". Expect "brightened blocks, emissive pixels, water reflections, accurately cast shadows, and rich global illumination." As Digital Foundry's Alex Battaglia explained earlier this year, the results really are impressive. "Let's not mince words here - path tracing in Minecraft is one of the most transformative uses of ray tracing we've seen," he wrote. "In Minecraft RTX, everything is ray traced: every element is realistically, correctly lit - and...the extent of this implementation produces effects we've never seen in games before." Watch on YouTube Minecraft with Ray Tracing for Windows 10 release trailer. Players will need to download an RTX-enabled world or create their own ray tracing worlds using physically based rendered texture packs to actually experience the visual enhancements - although Mojang notes friends can still play together even if some of them aren't using RTX-capable hardware. Numerous free RTX-enabled worlds are already available in the Minecraft Marketplace, and two new free worlds will be added to mark the update's full release. Colosseum RTX, created by BANV, is available from the Minecraft Marketplace now and whisks players back to the Roman Empire, where they can "explore beautiful views, collect historical trivia, or look for all the hidden locations spread across the area". There's also the arena itself where players can duke it out with up to three friends. Dungeon Dash RTX, meanwhile, is an action focussed map created by BlockWorks that sets players loose in a series of increasingly challenging dungeons situated across the medieval countryside. "Conquer up to ten dungeons in unique biomes, featuring locations such as a village built up in the trees, floating islands in the sky, and a mysterious mine", explains Mojang. This one's due to arrive "soon". More information on Minecraft's ray tracing update can be found on Mojang's website. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 10 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store