DOOM: The Dark Ages | June 2025 PC Update | Path Tracing (select NVIDIA GPUs) + Benchmark Mode Release Notes

This June 2025 PC Update is exclusive to the PC versions of the game. It adds Path Tracing support with Ray Reconstruction for select NVIDIA GPUs. Also included in this update is a brand-new Benchmark Mode that lets PC gamers measure their system’s performance on a variety of settings. Additionally, this update resolves some known issues present in the previous version of the game. 

Path Tracing Support with DLSS Ray Reconstruction

Path Tracing is officially supported on the range of NVIDIA GPUs, video settings and system requirements noted in the table below. Path Tracing, when combined with DLSS Ray Reconstruction adds accurate light bounce modeling, bringing new detail into view on material surfaces and reflections at a level previously not possible in a DOOM game. 

Required drivers: NVIDIA 576.75 or higher

To enable Path Tracing, go to the Video Settings menu, and scroll down to the Path Tracing section and set Path Tracing to On. To enable Ray Reconstruction, select it as the Denoiser in the Path Tracing section of the Video Settings menu. Make sure to apply your settings changes before returning to gameplay. 

While users on other supported GPU models are free to attempt to run the game with Path Tracing enabled at lower settings, 60 FPS, correct visuals and game stability are not assured when doing so. 

Click here for more information from NVIDIA regarding Path Tracing and the Ray Reconstruction in DOOM: The Dark Ages

Benchmark Mode 

Benchmark mode creates a consistent, nearly deterministic path through a section of select DOOM: The Dark Ages levels to that players can see how their systems perform under a variety of video settings. Using this mode players can see how far they can push their system performance. 

To access Benchmark Mode, go to the Extras section of the Main Menu and select Benchmark Mode.  From here, you can select and run any of the following Benchmark Levels: 

While running a Benchmark Level, graphs show FPS, total frame time, GPU and CPU frame time. Use the controls listed at the bottom of the screen to toggle graph metrics between FPS and milliseconds, and to toggle graph visibility on/off

Bug Fixes 

Resolved an issue in which Alt + Tabbing the game during cutscenes while using FSR Frame Generation on certain NVIDIA GPUS would cause the game to freeze

Known Issues 

Issue: Some elements may not appear correctly in the Harbor of Souls “barge crash” cutscene when running the game in Path Tracing mode in certain hardware and settings configurations

Resolution: We are investigating potential fixes for a future update

Issue: Users with Path Tracing enabled can observe graphical artifacts on tentacle enemies attached to walls

Resolution: We are investigating potential fixes for a future update