Nvidia’s PhysX technology has had a mixed reputation among game developers. When The Witcher 3 launched, its use of PhysX for hair effects contributed to performance issues, particularly on some older graphics cards. Geralt’s flowing hair, rendered with PhysX-powered HairWorks, turned out to be a heavy load for certain systems.
Over time, PhysX found its way into popular game engines like Unity 5 and eventually became open-source. Initially, it was available in a limited form for computers and mobile devices, but later it expanded further. However, as part of Nvidia’s 32-bit CUDA platform, PhysX has a limited future. To fully utilize it now, gamers must invest in Nvidia’s 50-series graphics cards, which can be pricey.
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Gearbox/Take 2
See that smoke? It’s from Sweden, originally.
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Gearbox/Take 2
The real dynamic particles were the friends we made…
In January, Nvidia announced that 32-bit applications won’t be supported in newer versions of its CUDA toolkit. While these applications can still run on older cards, developing them has become challenging. If you’re using a 50-series GPU, a 32-bit game with PhysX enabled might not work as expected, forcing some physics calculations to the CPU instead of the GPU. This can lead to poor performance and lower frame rates.
Games like Borderlands 2 have been criticized for relying too heavily on PhysX, resulting in a “terrible” gaming experience, despite looking visually appealing with features like dust clouds and dynamic effects. Other titles, including Metro 2033 and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, also faced performance hiccups with PhysX.
Many gamers noted that these issues existed long before Nvidia began limiting PhysX support. Yet, PhysX did contribute to immersive features in several games, such as destructible environments and fluid simulations, adding depth to gameplay.
The process of preserving older games has always been tough, but changes in technology make it even harder. Some game features may fade away, leaving behind a history that’s hard to capture or explain.
