The most embarrassing part of big tech trying to “improve” art is that a company will show you side-by-side comparisons that are supposed to make the impact of their technology look incredibly impressive, and it doesn’t. The average tech bro probably looks at something like Capcom’s sci-fi shooter Pragmata differently than most people, focused on some vague definition of “optimizing” visual fidelity instead of on artistic intent. That’s how we end up with Nvidia’s DLSS AI filter changing the faces of video game characters. It’s also a factor in Nvidia’s latest embarrassing showing: comparisons of Pragmata running with and without path tracing on, with the company claiming the one using its RTX graphics card’s path tracing looks better when it actually looks terrible.
Another example, notice the improved shadows under objects and accurate reflections! pic.twitter.com/36n1dlz8ze
— Jacob Freeman (@GeForce_JacobF) April 13, 2026
Nvidia’s comparison shots with RTX on are touted as “improved” because the shadows and reflections are more “accurate,” but they’re also completely lacking in depth and contrast, and look comically washed out. Pragmata’s space station has a carefully cultivated atmosphere, and these shots look altogether unfinished with the effects of those creative choices minimized. The way the lighting just disappears on objects makes them look like they’re low-res placeholder assets that haven’t been touched up yet by the art team. Areas that are meant to look somewhat ominous are brightened up, all in the name of implementing ray tracing without any artistic context.
In practice, ray tracing and path tracing can lend games an impressive visual flair as reflections and shadows are cranked up. However, arbitrarily slapping it onto games that have a very authored look and aesthetic like it’s an Instagram filter gives you saturated shots like this, rather than visuals that look like they’ve been designed with a specific style and tone in mind. Thankfully, it seems like most people are on the same page and won’t be turning RTX on when Pragmata comes out on April 17.