In the ever-evolving world of PC gaming graphics, few mods have generated as much excitement as Pascal "Marty McFly" Gilcher’s Ray Tracing Global Illumination (RTGI) shader. While hardware-accelerated ray tracing (RTX) remains exclusive to newer graphics cards, RTGI has democratized cinematic lighting for thousands of older titles. Among its many iterations, one version stands out as a landmark release: ReShade RTGI 0.36.1.
This article dives deep into what makes version 0.36.1 special, how it differs from standard screen-space effects, the technical requirements, installation steps, and the best settings to transform your games.
High (Lower is faster but introduces grain. "Low" is not recommended).1.0 (Native). Set to 0.5 for a 50% performance boost, but expect blurry bounce lighting.RTGI.fx) – available from the ReShade Discord archive or GitHub mirrors (search "McFly RTGI 0.36.1").RTGI_AdaptiveSharpen alone. Set sharpening to 0.6. This is a known quirk of 0.36.1 when combined with SMAA or FXAA.Q: Is RTGI 0.36.1 a virus? A: No, if downloaded from the official ReShade repository or Marty McFly’s GitHub. Avoid executable installers from third-party sites.
Q: Will this get me banned in online games? A: Yes. Never use ReShade with RTGI in any multiplayer game with EasyAntiCheat, BattlEye, or Vanguard. It reads the depth buffer, which triggers anti-cheat software as a potential wallhack.
Q: Can I use this with AMD FSR or Nvidia DLSS? A: Yes, but with caution. Using RTGI after DLSS (as a post-process) works fine. Using RTGI before upscaling will denoise the ray tracing, then the upscaler will re-introduce artifacts.
Q: Where is the download link?
A: Due to policy, this article does not provide direct links. Search "Marty McFly RTGI 0.36.1 ReShade" on Google, and look for pages hosted on github.io or patreon.com (the free public posts). Ensure the file is a .fx shader, not an .exe.
This article was last updated for ReShade 6.3.3 and RTGI 0.36.1 compatibility. Game on. Reshade Rtgi 0.36.1
ReShade RTGI 0.36.1 by Marty Stratton (Pascal Gilcher) is widely considered the gold standard for adding "next-gen" lighting to older or non-raytraced games. It uses Screen Space Ray Traced Global Illumination to simulate how light bounces off surfaces, drastically altering a game's atmosphere. Core Features & Strengths
Realistic Light Bouncing: Unlike standard "flat" lighting, RTGI allows colors from one surface to "bleed" onto another (e.g., sunlight hitting a red carpet will cast a soft red glow on nearby white walls).
Hardware Agnostic: Unlike native RTX, this shader works on almost any GPU, including older non-RTX NVIDIA cards and AMD hardware, because it relies on the game’s depth buffer rather than dedicated ray-tracing cores.
Stable Depth-Based Shading: Version 0.36.1 is noted for its relative stability and fine-grained controls, allowing users to balance quality against performance more effectively than earlier iterations.
Unmatched Compatibility: It can be injected into almost any 3D game that supports ReShade and provides depth buffer access. Performance & Limitations ReShade RTGI | Ray Traced Global Illumination
Illuminating Your Games: A Guide to ReShade RTGI 0.36.1 If you have ever wanted to bring modern, ray-traced lighting to older titles or games without native support, ReShade RTGI Unlocking True Next-Gen Lighting: The Complete Guide to
(Ray Traced Global Illumination) is the gold standard. Developed by Marty McFly (Pascal Gilcher), version
represents a significant leap in both accuracy and performance compared to earlier builds. What Makes RTGI 0.36.1 Special?
Unlike native hardware-level ray tracing (like NVIDIA’s RTX), RTGI is a post-process effect
. It simulates how light bounces off surfaces using only the information visible on your screen (depth buffer data). Universal Compatibility
: It works on almost any 3D game and does not require an RTX-capable graphics card, making it accessible for a wide range of hardware. Performance vs. Quality
: Version 0.36.1 is noted for being "miles better" in performance than predecessors like 0.17 or 0.33, though it remains a demanding shader that should not be used on low-end systems. Realistic Lighting : It accurately models diffuse and specular global illumination Enable RTGI : Check the box
, adding depth and immersion that standard ambient occlusion often misses. How to Install and Setup
To get the latest official version (0.36.1 or newer), you typically need to support Marty McFly on and join his Discord for beta access. Install ReShade : Download the latest version of and point it to your game's launcher. Add RTGI Files : Move the shader and texture folders into your game's reshade-shaders directory. Configure Depth Buffers
: RTGI relies entirely on depth data. Within the ReShade menu, use the Display Depth
shader to ensure your game's depth buffer is correctly aligned and not flickering. Activate RTGI
: Search for "RTGI" in the ReShade technique list and enable it. You can then adjust settings like Ray Length Amount of Rays Focal Depth to balance visual quality with your frame rate. Pro Tips for the Best Results How To ReShade RTGI - Install and Adjust