Nvidia Game Ready Drivers – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

January 6, 2020

NVIDIA’s Latest Game Ready Driver Features Variable Rate Super Sampling Improving VR Image Quality

It’s almost time for CES 2020, with tech companies from around the world heading to Las Vegas to show off their latest products. NVIDIA – known for its GeForce graphics cards – has several announcements to make this one with one important one for virtual reality (VR) enthusiasts. A new Game Ready Driver is now available adding a feature called Variable Rate Super Sampling (VRSS), designed to improve the visual quality of VR videogames.

nvidia-geforce-variable-rate-supersampling-boneworks-850px VRSS works by using an existing NVIDIA technology, Variable Rate Shading (VRS), which is found on the company’s latest graphics cards using Turing architecture – products like the GeForce RTX 2070 or RTX 2080 for example. VRS is able to increase/decrease the image quality in different regions of the frame by decoupling shading rate from resolution.

Taking that another step further, VRSS uses fixed foveated supersampling to enhance the central area of a frame where a player is looking on videogames with a higher shading rate in comparison to the edges. Thus, players get better visuals which can aid immersive gameplay.

There are several criteria VR videogames need to meet to use VRSS such as being DX11 VR titles or applications that have forward renderers and support MSAA. Currently, 24 make the list:

Battlewake
Boneworks
Eternity WarriorsTM VR
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
In Death
Job Simulator
Killing Floor: Incursion
L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files
Lone Echo
Mercenary 2: Silicon Rising
Pavlov VR
Raw Data
Rec Room
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
Robo Recall
SairentoVR
Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope
Skeet: VR Target Shooting
Space Pirate Trainer
Special Force VR: Infinity War
Spiderman: Far from Home
Spiderman: Homecoming – Virtual Reality Experience
Talos Principle VR
The Soulkeeper VR

nvidia-geforce-ces-2020-game-ready-driver-variable-rate-supersampling-setup-850px — Variable Rate Super Sampling (VRSS) setup

And it’s not just VRSS that the new Game Ready Driver has packed with it. Other useful features for NVIDIA owners include:

A new Max Frame Rate setting in the NVIDIA Control Panel to help save power, reduce system latency, and more.
A new Freestyle splitscreen filter lets you showcase screenshots or videos in a side-by-side or even a blended fashion.
An update to the Image Sharpening filter that lets users enable GPU scaling without image sharpening, and even supports custom resolutions.
Adds support for an additional 8 G-SYNC Compatible displays. Adding these to the previously mentioned 2020 LG OLED TVs brings the total number of G-SYNC Compatible displays to 90.

NVIDIA regularly releases these Game Ready Drivers ahead of major titles coming to market, helping ensure players have a smooth and hopefully flawless experience.

Expect CES 2020 to be filled with VR news of various sorts this week with VRFocus there to bring you all the latest updates.

October 1, 2019

NVIDIA’s Latest Game Ready Driver Adds Support for Asgard’s Wrath & Vive Cosmos

NVIDIA regularly releases Game Ready Drivers for its graphics cards when new software and hardware are due to arrive and today is no exception. To ensure GeForce gamers are fully up to date, support has been added for the HTC Vive Cosmos head-mounted display (HMD) and the Sanzaru Games’ title Asgard’s Wrath.

Asgard's Wrath

The new driver should provide all the performance optimizations and maximum stability users will need for smooth, stutter-free virtual reality (VR) gameplay.

Asgard’s Wrath is a big fantasy adventure from the studio behind Marvel Powers United VR. Revealed during Oculus Connect 6 (OC6) last week that Asgard’s Wrath would be released on 10th October, it’s looking like one of the biggest VR titles of 2019. The optimizations provided by NVIDIA’s Game Ready Driver will be needed as Asgard’s Wrath clocks in at a rather hefty 121.08 GB download, mainly because of the textures notes executive producer at Oculus Studios, Mike Doran, on Reddit.

Featuring over 40 hours of gameplay, Asgard’s Wrath is based on Norse mythology with players cast in the role of a fledgeling god who is set several challenges by Loki. Fighting as both a mere mortal as well as a god depending on the situation, you’ll be able to possess different classes of heroes (Mage, Rogue and Warrior), engage in melee battles and solve puzzles to ensure these preordained Heroes of the Realms fulfil their destinies.

Vive Cosmos

The big VR launch this week is HTC Vive’s next PC VR headsets the Vive Cosmos, arriving Thursday 3rd. The driver update will help provide smooth sailing for customers who’ve dropped £699 GBP/ $699 USD on the new device, a rival to Oculus Rift S. Vive Cosmos features six cameras for inside-out tracking, a hinged front, a combined resolution of 2880×1770 (1440×1700 per-eye) using an LCD display, removable front faceplate to add further modifications and new wireless 6DoF controllers. Plus, early adopters will be the first to try the new Vive Reality System (VRS) a reimagined hub for connecting with the latest videogames and apps featuring a redesigned user interface called Lens.

To download and install the new GeForce Game Ready 436.48 WHQL drivers, simply open GeForce Experience and click the “Drivers” tab. For further updates from NVIDIA, keep reading VRFocus.

December 8, 2017

Nvidia Release Game Ready Drivers For Fallout 4 VR

Nvidia are the providers of some of the most popular graphics cards designed for virtual reality (VR) applications, along with the drivers that power them. Nvidia are keen to give users the best experience, and regularly release new Game Ready Driver updates for new and upcoming titles, as they have done for Fallout 4 VR.

Fallout 4 was originally released in 2015, a sequel to both Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas as an action RPG set after a devastating nuclear war that leaves much of the planet in ruins, with the remnants of humanity fighting for survival against monsters and mutants. Fallout 4 follows the story of the protagonist, who can be male or female depending on player choice, who was cryogenically frozen before the war, and is now searching for their son and the person who murdered their spouse.

Fallout 4 VR screenshot

Bethesda announced that they would be bringing Fallout 4 into VR at E3 2016, an announcement that was met with great excitement. The title is due to launch for the HTC Vive on 11th December, 2017. The title has been reimagined for VR, though still contains the complete core game with its hundreds of quests and large cast of characters, along with combat, crafting and building systems which have been modified to work with Vive motion controllers.

Ahead of the release Nvidia have released a new Game-Ready driver which has been specially optimised for Fallout 4 VR, allowing for the best performance for players by delivering smooth, stutter-free graphics, essential in minimising simulation sickness.

Users can download GeForce Game Ready 388.59 WHQL drivers by using the GeForce Experience desktop application, which also allows players to stream and record gameplay and participate in exclusive giveaways.

Fallout 4 VR screenshot

Further information on the GeForce drivers can be found on the Nvidia website. More information on Fallout 4 VR can be found on the Steam Store page.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Fallout 4 VR as it becomes available.

November 30, 2017

GeForce Release Game-Ready Drivers for DOOM VFR

DOOM VFR is due for release very soon, to the excitement of virtual reality (VR) users the world over who have been hotly anticipating the chance to rip demons apart in glorious VR. For PC VR users, Nvidia have released new drivers to make the experience as good as possible.

DOOM VFR is Bethesda and id Software’s follow up to 2016’s DOOM, this time bringing the experience into VR. The player takes the role of a scientist caught up in the demonic invasion of the UAC Martian research facility. After a bloody encounter with a demon, the player is transferred into the mind of a machine, armed to the teeth to take revenge on the demons infesting the complex.

DOOM VFR screenshot

The developer and publisher have released a list of recommended system specifications for HTC Vive users who wish to engage in combat against the forces of hell:

DOOM VFR Minimum System Requirements

OS: Windows 7 64-Bit or later
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350, or better
RAM: 8 GB RAM
HDD: 17 GB HD space
Video: GeForce GTX 1070, or equivalent

DOOM VFR Recommended System Requirements

OS: Windows 7 64-Bit or later
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
RAM: 16 GB RAM
HDD: 17 GB HD space
Video: GeForce GTX 1080, or equivalent

For users who have a GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 1080 to get the best experience from DOOM VFR, Nvidia is recommending users should download the latest Game-ready drivers, which have been optimised to provide a smooth, stutter-free VR experience. Engineers at Nvidia have been working until the last possible moment to fine-tune the new drivers to offer the best possible gameplay. To further reassure users, each game-ready driver is WHQL-certified by Microsoft.

nvidia geforce gtx 10 series

The Nvidia GeForce Game Ready 388.43 WHQL drivers are available through the GeForce Experience desktop application, which also allows users to record or stream gameplay.

VRFocus will bring you further news on DOOM VFR as it becomes available.

October 9, 2017

Nvidia’s Game Ready Driver for ARKTIKA.1 now Available

If you’re an Oculus Rift owner then there’s a good chance you’re looking forward to tomorrow as 4A Games finally release ARKTIKA.1. As is quite often the case – especially with big title launches – Nvidia has now released its Game Ready driver for the first-person shooter (FPS).

NVIDIA’s Game Ready driver program aims to delivers the best possible experience by optimizing performance and latency, which is important for smooth, stutter-free virtual reality (VR) gameplay, especially when dealing with graphically intense titles such as ARKTIKA.1.

Arktika.1 screenshot 2

Previous Game Ready drivers support has included Project CARS 2, EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone, Killing Floor: Incursion, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, Battlezone and many more.

Created using the studio’s in-house 4A Engine – the developer is best known for its Metro franchise – ARKTIKA.1 is set in the beautiful but deadly frozen environments of the Russian tundra, after Earth has entered a new ice age. The year is 2120 and mankind clings to existence in small remote colonies scrounging food and resources wherever possible. So players take on the role of a mercenary who must protect one of the last colonies in the wastelands of old Russia from violent raiders, marauders, and horrifying creatures using an arsenal of high-tech weaponry.

For the latest ARKTIKA.1 updates, keep reading VRFocus.

September 21, 2017

NVIDIA’s Latest Game Ready Drivers Support Project CARS 2 and EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone

There are some big PC videogame releases happening this month and as usual NVIDIA has ensured players using its graphics cards are fully setup and supported by rolling out new Game Ready Drivers, with Project CARS 2 and EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone both on the list.

Yesterday VRFocus reported on Slightly Mad Studios announcing that Project CARS 2 would be launching this Friday 22nd September, with support for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Featuring all-new motorsports, 180+ cars from dozens of the worlds top car makers and changing weather conditions across 140 tracks, the PC version has a host of video options to adjust, including Texture Filtering, V-Sync, MSAA, Post AA, Super Sampling, Post Processing Filters, Rain Drops, Crepuscular Rays, and many more to get the videogame looking just right.

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone is CCP Games’ latest update to the popular online combat title which is due to arrive on 26th September. Warzone is about expanding EVE: Valkyrie’s cross-platform support even further so that PC and PlayStation 4 owners who don’t have headsets can still enjoy the sci-fi shooter.

NVIDIA’s Game Ready Driver for EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone will add support for Multi-Res Shading (MRS) from the NVIDIA VRWorks SDK for both the desktop and virtual reality (VR) version of the videogame. MRS is a new rendering technique for VR whereby each part of an image is rendered at a resolution that better matches the pixel density of the warped image. Multi-Res Shading uses NVIDIA’s multi-projection architecture to render multiple scaled viewports in a single pass, which could improve performance by up to 51 percent it claims.

If you own an NVIDIA graphics card and plan on purchasing either of these titles the Game Ready Drivers are available now.

For any further NVIDIA updates keep reading VRFocus.

August 14, 2017

Nvidia Release Game Ready Driver for Killing Floor: Incursion

Graphics card makers Nvidia have been quite keen on supporting the virtual reality (VR) industry by providing the best possible experience for players taking on a VR experience. The new Game Ready Driver from Nvidia includes specific support for Killing Floor: Incursion, along with other titles Agents of Mayhem and Crossout.

The new Game Ready Driver has just been released for Nvidia users to take advantage of, either by downloading directly from the Nvidia website, or using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app. Nvidia have released the game-ready driver for Killing Floor: Incursion two days before the official release of the tile, so players will be able to take advantage of the improved features from day 0, such as a consistent framerate of 90fps. Nvidia are recommending that players use a Nvidia GeForce 1080 Ti for the best experience while playing Killing Floor: Incursion.

KillingFloorIncursion_E33016

Also included in the new driver is Nvidia Ansel, a new type of screen-capture technology that allows players to capture high-quality still from within the videogame world, then apply post-processing with various filters and share in 360-degrees via smartphone, PC or VR headset.

Killing Floor: Incursion was developed by Tripwire Interactive as part of horror franchise Killing Floor. The title is due to be released on Oculus Rift with Touch later this month. The gameplay puts the player in the role of a soldier who needs to fight off monsters using a range of weaponry, both long-ranged like guns, or melee like knives. Exploration is encouraged to allow for the discovery of new materials with which to craft bigger and better weapons, and find the best place to set up a base to hold off the zombie hordes.

VRFocus will continue to report on new technology available for VR.

June 29, 2017

NVIDIA Release Driver Update for Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience

Having the best possible quality for a videogame at launch is important, and it becomes even more important with the additional requirements that come with virtual reality (VR) titles. Gameplay issues or bugs can break immersion and ruin a VR experience, and so NVIDIA has launched a new ‘Game Ready’ driver in anticipation of tomorrow’s launch of Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience.

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience casts the player as the titular hero in his first VR videogame. Following the success of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Batman: Arkham VR, Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience will allow player to become their superhero and engage with his unique superpowers.

“Our long-running Game Ready driver program delivers the best possible experience by optimizing performance and latency, which is especially important for smooth, stutter-free Virtual Reality gameplay. Today’s game Ready Driver will provide the best VR experience for Spider-man Homecoming Virtual Reality Experience.”

This new Game Ready driver also supports Lawbreakers, a non-VR title which has a closed beta running 28th June 2017 to 3rd July 2017.

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience will launch tomorrow, 30th June 2017, and will be available for free on PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest superhero action in VR.

May 22, 2017

Nvidia Release Game Ready Driver for Star Trek: Bridge Crew

On Tuesday, 30th May, Star Trek fans will be able to board their favourite space ship like never before when Ubisoft finally releases the much delayed Star Trek: Bridge Crew. Coming to PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, the PC versions will be optimised for Nvidia graphics cards from today as the company has released its Game Ready Driver for the title.

Becoming a lot more common place for larger virtual reality (VR) releases, Nvidia is ensuring users will get the best experience possible on launch day through its long-running Game Ready driver program. This should ensure performance and latency are suitably corrected, thus achieveing smooth, stutter-free gameplay for Star Trek: Bridge Crew.

Developed by Red Storm Entertainment, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, is a team focused experience with players taking on one of four roles, Captain, Engineer, Tactical Officer, or Helm Officer. Each has their own part to play in successfully completing missions.

When the title was originally announced players would find themselves in the USS Aegis. Then earlier this year the studio revealed a major addition to the videogame, the iconic original star ship, the USS Enterprise would also be available for a far more 1960’s sci-fi feel.

“The original U.S.S. Enterprise is such an iconic part of the franchise,” said Sr. Creative Director David Votypka on the GeForce blog. “It’s the ship that started it all. The adventures and relationships that took place on the ship are a special part of Star Trek history, so we were determined to give players the opportunity to create their own adventures and stories on this classic ship. We’re very excited to see player reactions when they step onto the U.S.S. Enterprise original bridge for the first time, and experience Star Trek: Bridge Crew in a whole new way.”

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Star Trek: Bridge Crew, reporting back with the latest updates.

May 4, 2017

NVIDIA Launches Game Ready Driver for Rebellion’s Battlezone

Graphics card manufacturer NVIDIA is a massive supporter of virtual reality (VR) – as it helps to sell products – and one of the ways it does so is through regular launches of Game Ready drivers, ensuring its cards are suitably optimized for the latest videogames. Today’s latest batch of drivers sees dedicated support for Rebellion’s tank-based shooter Battlezone.

While the Game Ready driver is now available for PC users, the actual title hasn’t yet launched. Rebellion held a week long closed beta for Battlezone last month, allowing Oculus Rift and HTC Vive players a glimpse at what’s to come – PlayStation VR owners have been able to enjoy the title since launch day.

Battlezone image

Since the beta closed the studio hasn’t revealed when it plans to launch the shooter for PC users, but with the Game Ready driver now available that could occur fairly soon. NVIDIA’s last driver release happened towards the end of April, with Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Wilson’s Heart and Batman Arkham VR all featuring. At the time the latter two hadn’t actually launched.

The PC version of Battlezone will see improvements over its console sibling, with updated higher resolution textures and other graphical additions. While Oculus Rift users will also get support for Oculus Touch included.

If you’ve not been following VRFocus’ coverage of Battlezone, its an homage to Atari’s classic 1980 arcade game of the same name, a neon drenched first-person tank warfare videogame which features both single-player and multiplayer modes. There are a variety of tanks available depending on your play style and masses of upgrades on hand to personally tweak vehicles as needed.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Battlezone, reporting back with the latest updates from Rebellion.