First Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay trailer showed significant upgrades to RAGE engine - report
We may not have seen much of Red Dead Redemption 2, but the recent story trailer showed quite a bit of what seemed like in-game footage.
Although the trailer was made up almost entirely of cut-scenes, if you look closely, you can make out details that indicate we may in fact be looking at Red Dead Redemption 2 running in real-time.
According to analysis by Digital Foundry, some of the rendering techniques used in the trailer are similar to what we've seen in GTA 5. This evident in power lines, and in the alpha-to-coverage effects, further proof that footage wasn't pre-rendered.
Lighting and particle effects, especially particle lighting, is something that was immediately noticeable. Fire and sparks illuminate the environment around them, including the smoke effect.
Outside of the effects front, the quality of the graphics shown was praised. Little details like horse animations, the grass parting when horses pass through it, and the view distance all combined create nice reactive world. Character models and general character detail - down to the teeth and mouths - are a step beyond what GTA offered, even on modern consoles, according to the report.
While we're on the subject of textures and model quality, the clothes were also a highe point. Fabrics look a lot more realistic, helping remove the fake "plasticky look" the original Red Dead Redemption had.
The video above goes through the entire trailer, analysing every bit worth of discussion. Give it a watch, or visit the original link if you want to read the rest of the report.