Release Notes for Quake II RTX

1.8.0 (2025-11-05)

Quake II RTX Change Log

1.8.0

Fixed Issues:

Fixed a crash when loading map rlava from Ground Zero (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/issues/277)
Fixed an issue preventing a new game from being started in some cases (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/issues/413)
Fixed an issue with music not being played when placed in the game directory (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/273)
Fixed compatibility issues with Qualcomm Adreno GPUs (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/406)
Fixed corruption on screen borders when using FSR (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/377)
Fixed flashlight direction when playing demos (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/295)
Fixed incorrect usage of the vkGetQueryPoolResults API (af8459f)
Fixed incorrect filtering on some textures (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/442)
Fixed loading of MD3 skins (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/424)
Fixed loading of the game library on ppc64le machines (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/305)
Fixed misaligned channels on the metl12_1 material (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/issues/430)
Fixed per-surface transparency being ignored for BSP models (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/332)
Fixed some Vulkan validation layer issues (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/385, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/431, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/432)
Fixed somw Wayland related issuws (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/456)
Fixed the build with CONFIG_GL_RENDERER=OFF (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/issues/412)
Fixed the gun intersecting with walls or other object (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/319)
Fixed the sky not showing behind transparent surfaces (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/342)
Fixed unintended looping of Ogg music (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/330)

New Features:

Added a distortion effect on walls marked as transparent (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/290)
Added an option to shoot at the crosshair (aimfix) (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/issues/274)
Added compatibility with Quake 2 Remastered maps (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/298, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/301, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/308)
Added new rendering projections: Panini, Stereographic, Equirectangular, Mercator (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/344, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/366)
Added the weapflare commmand (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/63)
Added screen warping when underwater (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/376)
Added debug line drawing (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/440)

Misc Improvements:

Merged LOTS of changes and fixes from Q2PRO (78 pull requests by @res2k)
Added CMake options to compile with system Zlib, OpenAL, cURL, SDL2 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/389, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/390, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/392, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/393, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/401, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/403)
Added support for building Q2RTX for the E2K architecture (MCST Elbrus 2000) (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/381)
Improved acceleration structure building performance on RADV (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/410)
Improved built-in profiler functionality (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/288)
Improved compatibility with mission packs (rogue, xatrix) (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/347)
Improved handling of NODRAW and SKY surfaces (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/343)
Improved polygonal light sampling to reduce noise (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/289)
Improved rendering performance on Mesa X11 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/409)
Improved visibility of enemies' power shields (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/331)
Moved the game and config files on Linux to $XDG_DATA_HOME/quake2rtx (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/250)
Updated libcurl to v8.7.1 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/396)
Updated SDL2 to v2.32.2 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/456)
Updated stb to 5c20573 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/450)
Updated the Linux build environment to steamrt v3 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/404)
Updated zlib to v1.3.1 (https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/363, https://github.com/NVIDIA/Q2RTX/pull/391)