Improved Ray Tracing & Shadows for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

[A_Artist]

Enhanced RT & Lighting & Shadows for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Reflections - Lumen and Screen Space Reflections are now have high resolution, no flickering, also included reflections on transparent, mirror surfaces, reflections on rough surfaces have been improved. Lighting and Shadows improved. Volumetric effects are now higher resolution. Increased texture resolution. FPS decreases by 10-15%. This method is for those who have a good GPU and want a more beautiful and detailed graphics!

1) For the Steam version: %localappdata%\Stalker2\Saved\Config\Windows
2) Create & Open Engine.ini, and paste this:

[SystemSettings]
r.VolumetricFog.GridPixelSize=3
r.VolumetricFog.GridSizeZ=128
r.Lumen.TranslucencyReflections.FrontLayer.Allow=1
r.LumenScene.Heightfield.MaxTracingSteps=32
r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1
r.Lumen.Reflections.DownsampleFactor=0
r.Lumen.Reflections.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.DiffuseIndirect.AsyncCompute=1
r.LumenScene.Lighting.AsyncCompute=1
r.LumenScene.Radiosity.SpatialFilterProbes.KernelSize=0
r.LumenScene.Radiosity.UpdateFactor=128
r.LumenScene.Radiosity.ProbeSpacing=3
r.LumenScene.Radiosity.HemisphereProbeResolution=64
r.Lumen.IrradianceFieldGather.NumProbesToTraceBudget=300
r.Lumen.RadianceCache.NumFramesToKeepCachedProbes=30
r.Lumen.Reflections.MaxRoughnessToTrace=0.4
r.Lumen.Reflections.ScreenSpaceReconstruction.RoughnessScale=0.5
r.Lumen.Reflections.SmoothBias=1
r.Lumen.Reflections.Temporal=0
r.Shadow.MaxCSMResolution=2048
r.Shadow.FilterMethod=1

[ScalabilityGroups]
sg.GlobalIllumination=4
sg.HairQuality=4
sg.VolumetricFogQuality=4
sg.ShadowQuality=4
sg.PostProcessQuality=4
sg.TextureQuality=4
sg.EffectsQuality=4

What PC is needed for this?

I recommend 3080 / 3080ti / 3090ti / 4070 / 4080 / 4090, I can't vouch for other GPU. The graphics improves very well, especially noticeable in reflections and lighting. Graphics lovers will appreciate it

Changes in the graphics

I made a comparison, uploaded to postimages.org. There are many more changes, but I decided that 1 comparison would be enough

https://postimg.cc/tZbDYknZ

[Conker]

"Improved ray tracing"
The thing is.. I don't want ray tracing. I want the normal visual settings for literally any other game with the option to turn on ray tracing if I want to.

[fletcher1]

It works! I have an i7-11700KF, 32GB RAM, RTX3090 (24GB VRAM).
I have nearly every setting on Max/Epic, but the heaviest changes you get by adjusting the DLSS-Setting - mine is on Performance/50% - playin' on 4K. I get 60FPS only when nobody is around, otherwise it may fall down to 40FPS.
With this modification FPS doesn't change noticable for me - that's good!
GPU-Z tells me, that 16,3GB VRAM is used, without this mod it's less than 12GB VRAM.

[martin.utikal]

I think if you just want to fix the ugly, low quality, shimmering shadows, you could just add this one line under system settings:

r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1

Its the same issue Black Myth had with shadows if you turned off RT, and this line fixed it in that game, so since they are both UE5 it could be a fix here too.

Idk need to test it myself first, but I hope its the case, cause I refuse to play this game with that disgusting looking shadows it has right now.

[whiterspon]

Nice another PC Killer Unvanted 3rd Party Recomendation I play Normally Without Stutter etc.. on Ultimate Quality lol and no i dont Have 40xx or Other Unpolished Crap Card I have Better

[rcjonessnp175]

this is awesome the increased amount of reflections in the puddles everywhere really livens up the game. I deleted the shadow settings you put in and kept the performance bit better. i did keep the r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1 though.

[Yurevich]

Автор сообщения: A_Artist

Автор сообщения: Yurevich

@a_artist Hello friend! I have a very powerful computer Monitor Asus 2K 240gh 0.1ms response (Via DLDSR I set 4K) DDR5 64gb 6400 G skill, RTX 3090ti (overclocked and water-cooled) + I9 12900k with liquid metal + water cooling. I installed the famous module from Nukem ( https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/738?tab=description ) enabled Nvidia frame generation - the result is perfect, there is no delay, fps has increased by an average of 30-40 frames per second. I play on Epic 4K + DLSS Quality settings + Frame Generation, there were 45-60 fps in the village, it became 75-90. Before that, I played 2K + DLS Quality. The built-in fsr 3.0 in the game works very, very poorly (has a huge delay), but this problem has been solved as I wrote earlier. I tried your configuration to improve shadows in 4K + DLSS Quality + fps frame generation dropped to 60-70, the picture got better, but not as "fast" as it was with 90 fps, respectively. Why do I have a question for you, what do you think is the best way for me to act in these options and which one is better:
1) 4K + DLSS DLAA (Native 4K) + Frame generation without your reflection enhancement mod (about 50-60 frames per village)
2) 4K + DLSS Balance/Performance + Frame generation with your reflection enhancement mod (about 70-80 frames per village)
3) 4K + DLSS Quality + Frame generation without your mod (80-100 frames per village)
Your opinion on this matter is very important, to sacrifice a little quality when processing dlss, but to make the effects cooler or leave the reflection effects by default, but to have a stable FPS and enjoy life, thank you.

Hey! Glad to see you here, the 3090ti is a beast, but I think you're better choose "2" or "3" option (4K&DLSSq&Without my mod). This is the best solution, the game also looks amazing without my improvement, since this is a shooter, FPS is still more important in it (+stability), a graphics enhancement mod can be installed after finishing the game main story to enjoy the graphics and side quests (or NG+)

I did so yesterday + added 3 more commands from Lumen that do not affect fps and several commands labeled reflex. Everything works perfectly. Thanks for the help!

[rcjonessnp175]

Автор сообщения: Yurevich

Автор сообщения: A_Artist

Hey! Glad to see you here, the 3090ti is a beast, but I think you're better choose "2" or "3" option (4K&DLSSq&Without my mod). This is the best solution, the game also looks amazing without my improvement, since this is a shooter, FPS is still more important in it (+stability), a graphics enhancement mod can be installed after finishing the game main story to enjoy the graphics and side quests (or NG+)

I did so yesterday + added 3 more commands from Lumen that do not affect fps and several commands labeled reflex. Everything works perfectly. Thanks for the help!

What additional commands did you add? Be interested in trying myself.

[Yurevich]

Автор сообщения: rcjonessnp175

this is awesome the increased amount of reflections in the puddles everywhere really livens up the game. I deleted the shadow settings you put in and kept the performance bit better. i did keep the r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1 though.

Thanks, I see that this setting does not hit fps much, but it improves the picture. You did well!

[Yurevich]

Автор сообщения: rcjonessnp175

Автор сообщения: Yurevich

I did so yesterday + added 3 more commands from Lumen that do not affect fps and several commands labeled reflex. Everything works perfectly. Thanks for the help!

What additional commands did you add? Be interested in trying myself.

r.Lumen.Reflections.DownsampleFactor=0
r.Lumen.Reflections.MaxRoughnessToTrace=0.3
r.Lumen.Reflections.ScreenSpaceReconstruction.RoughnessScale=0.5
r.Lumen.Reflections.SmoothBias=1
r.lumen.Reflections.Temporal=0
r.LumenScene.Lighting.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.DiffuseIndirect.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.Reflections.AsyncCompute=1
r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1

I left only them and none of them affected the performance, I don't know, maybe 1-2 frames maximum. It works perfectly, I recommend it!

[Yurevich]

Автор сообщения: Yurevich

Автор сообщения: rcjonessnp175

What additional commands did you add? Be interested in trying myself.

r.Lumen.Reflections.DownsampleFactor=0
r.Lumen.Reflections.MaxRoughnessToTrace=0.3
r.Lumen.Reflections.ScreenSpaceReconstruction.RoughnessScale=0.5
r.Lumen.Reflections.SmoothBias=1
r.lumen.Reflections.Temporal=0
r.LumenScene.Lighting.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.DiffuseIndirect.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.Reflections.AsyncCompute=1
r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1

I left only them and none of them affected the performance, I don't know, maybe 1-2 frames maximum. It works perfectly, I recommend it!

Please write later if you have decreased the number of fps or not.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Автор сообщения: Yurevich

Автор сообщения: rcjonessnp175

What additional commands did you add? Be interested in trying myself.

r.Lumen.Reflections.DownsampleFactor=0
r.Lumen.Reflections.MaxRoughnessToTrace=0.3
r.Lumen.Reflections.ScreenSpaceReconstruction.RoughnessScale=0.5
r.Lumen.Reflections.SmoothBias=1
r.lumen.Reflections.Temporal=0
r.LumenScene.Lighting.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.DiffuseIndirect.AsyncCompute=1
r.Lumen.Reflections.AsyncCompute=1
r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=1

I left only them and none of them affected the performance, I don't know, maybe 1-2 frames maximum. It works perfectly, I recommend it!

Nah this increase VRAM usage a lot and VRAM leak becomes more of a problem.

[Play3r0]

Nice, it works really good. I have combined your guide with TheDonDope's one https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3369280920

[stardust]

Any way to enable muzzle flash, fire, flashlight shadows? The game looks flat without them, even STALKER 1 did much better 20 years ago.

[Menel]

Автор сообщения: stardust

Any way to enable muzzle flash, fire, flashlight shadows? The game looks flat without them, even STALKER 1 did much better 20 years ago.

Also curious for this. Flashlight shadows :(

[Bilbo Baggins]

There are mods that lets you enable flashlight shadows but no muzzle flash shadows, at least not yet.