Yes. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have hardware-based ray-tracing capability. That does not mean every game uses ray-traced lighting, reflections or shadows, and it does not guarantee that every console model in a product family receives the same effects. Developers choose whether to implement ray tracing, which effects to apply and, in some cases, which console versions support it.
A clear example is Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition: Capcom lists ray tracing for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but not Xbox Series S. That is a game-specific support statement, not proof that ray tracing can never be used in any Xbox Series S title.
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What ray tracing does on a console
Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates how light interacts with objects and surfaces. Sony’s official PS5 FAQ names water, glass, refraction and shadows as examples of effects that developers can produce with the technology. In practical terms, a game can use ray-traced calculations for selected parts of its image rather than relying only on traditional lighting techniques.
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The important distinction is between a console having the capability and a particular game shipping an implementation. Sony describes the PS5 as having hardware-based ray-tracing acceleration integrated into its graphics processing unit (GPU), while also stating that developers have many ways to use those capabilities. The hardware therefore makes ray tracing possible; the game’s code and the developer’s design determine whether you actually see it.
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Ray tracing can also be limited to certain effects or modes inside one game. A title might use it for shadows but not reflections, or enable it in one graphics mode while offering a different mode without those effects. The sources available for this question do not establish a universal list of modes, a standard naming convention or a performance ranking between consoles, so those details must be checked title by title.
Which consoles have documented ray-tracing support?
| Console | What the official material establishes | Named game example | What you should not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Sony says hardware-based ray-tracing acceleration is integrated into the PS5 GPU. See the official PS5 FAQ, published November 9, 2020. | Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition supports ray tracing on PS5, according to Capcom Support. | Every PS5 game, mode or visual effect does not automatically include ray tracing. |
| Xbox Series X | Microsoft advertises hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the Xbox Series X product page. | Capcom lists ray tracing for Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on Series X. | The existence of hardware acceleration does not make ray tracing universal across the Xbox library. |
| Xbox Series S | The cited Microsoft and Sony pages do not establish a general Series S ray-tracing specification. | Capcom’s support article says ray tracing is unavailable for Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on Series S. | You cannot turn that one game-specific limitation into a claim that no Series S game can ever use ray tracing. |
PlayStation 5: hardware capability, not a blanket feature
Sony’s platform documentation is direct: “Hardware-based ray tracing acceleration is integrated into PS5’s graphics processing unit (GPU), and developers have many ways to tap into these capabilities.” The statement appears in Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PS5: The Ultimate FAQ, originally published November 9, 2020.
That wording answers two different questions. For the hardware question, the answer is yes: the PS5 includes dedicated acceleration intended to help games use ray-tracing techniques. For the software question, the answer depends on each developer. Sony does not present ray tracing as a system-wide effect applied to every game, nor does the FAQ provide an exhaustive list of compatible titles.
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When checking a PS5 game, look for a statement from the developer or publisher that names ray tracing and identifies the relevant edition or console. A listing that says a game is “next generation” or has improved graphics is not, by itself, confirmation that ray tracing is present. The support language should identify the effect or feature explicitly.
Xbox Series X: Microsoft advertises hardware acceleration
Microsoft’s official Xbox Series X product page advertises hardware-accelerated ray tracing. That establishes Series X as a console platform designed to support the technique at the hardware level.
As with PS5, the product specification is not a promise that every Xbox game will render with ray tracing. A developer can choose a conventional lighting approach, use ray tracing for only one class of effect, or provide different options on different console versions. The Microsoft product page does not supply comparable game-by-game coverage or benchmark results, so it should be read as a capability statement rather than a catalogue of supported titles.
If a game is sold for both Series X and Series S, do not assume that a feature listed for the Xbox family applies identically to both machines. Confirm the model named in the game’s own support information.
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Xbox Series S: why the model-specific check matters
The most useful evidence for Series S is Capcom’s support entry titled “What consoles support ray tracing?”, updated July 2026. For Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition, Capcom identifies PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as supporting ray tracing and says the feature is unavailable on Xbox Series S.
This is a precise compatibility result for one game. It does not establish a universal rule that Series S hardware can never perform any ray-traced operation, because the cited source does not make that broader claim. Nor does it show that every other title will make the same decision. The safe conclusion is narrower: if you plan to play Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on Series S, you should not expect its ray-tracing feature.
The distinction is especially important when a store page, review or marketing description uses “Xbox Series” without naming the model. Series X and Series S are separate targets for feature support. A reader buying or choosing a console for a particular game should verify the exact model rather than treating a family-level label as proof of identical graphics options.
A concrete case: Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
Capcom’s support information is a useful illustration because it names both the game and the consoles. The entry records ray-tracing support on PS5 and Xbox Series X, while excluding Xbox Series S. That gives you three practical lessons:
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- Model differences can change the result. The same game family can offer ray tracing on Series X and omit it on Series S.
- A named support article is stronger than a generic feature list. The game-specific page identifies the exact title and models instead of implying that all current consoles behave the same way.
Capcom’s page is not a complete inventory of every ray-traced console game. Use it as confirmation for this title and as a reminder to check the documentation for any other game you are considering.
How to verify ray tracing for a game before you buy or install it
- Identify the exact console model. Write down PS5, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S rather than relying on a broad label such as “current generation” or “Xbox Series.”
- Identify the exact edition. A special edition, remaster or upgraded console release can have different graphics features from an older edition. Capcom’s support statement applies specifically to Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition.
- Read the publisher or developer’s support page. Look for the words “ray tracing” and a model-specific statement. Prefer documentation that names the game and console, such as Capcom’s support article.
- Check whether the source describes an effect or a mode. “Ray-traced shadows,” “ray-traced reflections” and a “ray-tracing mode” are not interchangeable promises. Record exactly what the developer says is included.
- Check for model or mode exclusions. If the page lists PS5 and Series X but omits Series S, treat the omission as significant for that title. Do not fill the gap with assumptions from another console.
- Separate confirmed information from performance claims. A feature can be documented without the source providing frame-rate, resolution or image-quality comparisons. The official material cited here does not establish a cross-console performance ranking.
Common misunderstandings
“If the console has ray tracing, every game must use it.”
No. Sony’s FAQ explicitly places implementation choices with developers. Hardware acceleration gives a game team an available capability; it does not force the team to use it.
“A game with ray tracing on Series X must have it on Series S.”
No. Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition listing demonstrates the opposite: the feature is documented for Series X and unavailable on Series S. Other games require their own model-specific evidence.
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“The Series S is proven to have no ray tracing at all.”
The cited material does not support that universal statement. It supports a narrower conclusion about Capcom’s game. Avoid turning one title’s compatibility decision into a specification for every Series S release.
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No. Sony describes several possible uses, including water, glass, refraction and shadows. A developer may select one effect, several effects or none of them, and the cited sources do not define a mandatory bundle.
“A product page proves which games support the feature.”
A console product page establishes platform capability. It does not replace a game’s support documentation. Use the platform pages to understand what the hardware can do, then use the game publisher’s information to determine what a specific title actually implements.
What the evidence can—and cannot—tell you
The official sources establish a clear baseline: PS5 has hardware-based ray-tracing acceleration, Xbox Series X is advertised with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and at least one named game implements the feature on those two consoles. They also establish that support can differ by model, because Capcom excludes Series S for Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition.
They do not provide a universal list of ray-traced games, a complete specification for every Xbox model, or a fair performance comparison between PS5 and Series X. No named statistic in the cited material measures frame rate, resolution, image quality or the number of ray-traced effects. Consequently, choosing between consoles solely on an assumed ray-tracing performance hierarchy would go beyond what these sources demonstrate.
For a buying decision, treat ray tracing as one capability in a chain: the console must support the underlying hardware feature; the developer must implement it; the particular edition and model must be included; and the game may still limit the effect to selected visuals or modes. Verifying all four points is more reliable than reading a generic “next-generation graphics” label.
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