“Side-by-side comparison” does not name one specific feature in Cyberpunk 2077. The clearest official example compares ray tracing with path tracing; the phrase can also refer to comparing platforms, graphics modes, or ray reconstruction settings. To judge what looks better—or runs faster—you need to know exactly which settings, versions, and platforms are being compared.
What is the official side-by-side comparison?
CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition booklet shows an image labeled “Ray Tracing” beside one labeled “Path Tracing.” It is a comparison of lighting approaches, not a universal before-and-after result for every scene or platform. The booklet describes path tracing as a different way of calculating light and reflection, rather than a simple image filter.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code] | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The World of Cyberpunk 2077 | $32.47 | Buy on Amazon |
In the booklet, CD Projekt Red says path tracing “no longer relies on systems like reflection probes, GI probes, or shadow budgets, which are a foundation of most real-time solutions.” The statement is attributed to the official booklet, which associates the work with NVIDIA; it does not identify an individual speaker. Read the Ultimate Edition page.
What differences should you look for?
Compare lighting, reflections, shadows, and image stability in the same scene. The effect can vary with the location, camera angle, movement, display, and graphics settings, so one screenshot cannot establish how the feature behaves throughout the game.
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Still images can reveal some changes in detail, but they may miss motion artifacts. GamersNexus notes that ray reconstruction issues such as ghosting behind a moving car mirror can be easier to see in motion and close-up. Its comparison viewer supports side-by-side and split-screen views, zoom, and a draggable slider. See the GamersNexus comparison and benchmarks.
How to make a fair comparison
Change one feature at a time and keep the scene and camera as consistent as possible. A useful comparison states:
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- Game build: the version or patch tested.
- Platform and hardware: for example, PC, PS5, or PS5 Pro, with the relevant PC components where applicable.
- Graphics modes and settings: name the exact modes and the one setting that changed.
- Resolution and upscaling: include the output resolution and upscaling mode.
- Scene and evidence: use the same location and camera position, and say whether viewers are seeing still images or moving footage.
When comparing consoles, do not assume similarly named modes use identical settings. Compare the actual options available on each platform.
How does the comparison affect performance?
Visual quality and frame rate are separate questions. Path tracing can produce more convincing lighting in some scenes, but it can also impose a substantial performance cost on particular hardware. The figures below are examples from specific tests and modes, not predictions for every setup.
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| Test or mode | Reported performance | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Path tracing at native 4K | Below 20 fps, often 15–17 fps | Tom’s Guide test on an RTX 4090, reported in 2023; a historical result, not a current universal benchmark. Source |
| Path tracing with DLSS Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution in Performance mode | Mid-70s fps | The same Tom’s Guide test on an RTX 4090, reported in 2023; results depend on that test’s configuration. |
| PS5 Pro RT mode | 60 fps target | Mode-specific target reported by PSFoundry, not a guaranteed rate in every scene. |
| PS5 Pro non-RT Performance mode | 60 fps target; up to 90 fps with VRR | Reported platform capability; the higher figure depends on VRR and should not be treated as a constant rate. |
| PS5 Pro Ray Tracing Pro mode | 30 fps, or 40 fps on a 120 Hz high-frame-rate display | Mode- and display-specific figures reported by PSFoundry. |
PSFoundry’s console mode information was checked on 2026-07-29 and attributes its technical data to Digital Foundry and CD Projekt Red. Treat these as reported targets and capabilities, not guarantees for every scene or patch. See PSFoundry’s PS5 and PS5 Pro comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which comparison are you looking for?
- Ray tracing versus path tracing: compare different lighting approaches, as in the official booklet’s example.
- PS5 versus PS5 Pro: identify the exact graphics modes being compared; platform labels alone do not establish that settings match.
- Ray reconstruction on versus off: inspect image detail and stability, including moving footage if you want to assess possible motion artifacts.
Without those specifics, “side-by-side comparison in Cyberpunk” is ambiguous. A useful comparison names the feature or modes and states the platform, build, scene, resolution, and upscaling configuration.
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