If you considered GTA 5 to be visually peak, think again. One of the most well-known and respected names in the GTA modding scene
Razed the brain behind NaturalVision has stumbled upon something crazy hidden far back within the GTA V Enhanced Edition: an abandoned feature that makes additional shadows from every light source. And when we say every, we mean every light in the game casting actual-time, ray-traced shadows.
That’s a big deal.
This aspect did not make it into the game in its final iteration, but Razed was able to implement it. What does that look like? The Los Santos world now feels more vibrant than ever before. Streetlights cast sharp shadows, headlights feel more intense, and every city corner explodes with added depth and realism. It’s a significant improvement that provides small but robust visual touches most players weren’t even aware were absent.
But there’s more.
As it happens, GTA 5 Enhanced contains even more ray tracing goodies silently lurking within the game engine goodies such as mirror-like car reflections, more bounces of light, and higher-quality reflections within windows and puddles. Rockstar left them in hiding, probably unfinished, but modders are now toiling to flesh out those things, one tweak at a time.
Here are few before and after screenshots shared by the modder on Razed Mods
There’s no announced release date yet, but Razed has hinted that this graphical makeover might be coming this spring and yes, it’s going to be free. That’s right, a free patch that dramatically enhances lighting, shadows, and reflections, crafted from leftover tech already in the game.
It’s exciting not just because it makes the game look better, but because it shows how much untapped potential still exists in GTA V, even after all these years. Thanks to the modding community, especially creators like Razed, we’re seeing Los Santos evolve in ways Rockstar never officially released.
So if you’re into graphics mods, love squeezing every drop of realism from GTA 5, or just want the game to look next-gen on your rig this is one to watch. The future of GTA V isn’t just about what Rockstar does next… it’s also about what modders uncover along the way.