When Crysis 2 hit stores on March 22nd it became Cryteks first multi-platform game to be developed solely by their studios throughout the world. Because of the level of work required to ensure that all three versions of the game were equally as good, Crytek ultimately ran out of development time, preventing them from implementing planned DirectX 11 features before launch. Post release, the studios developers were free to focus only on the PC version of the game, and so for the past few months they have been beavering away in their offices to create the most extensive and advanced DirectX 11 features seen in any game to date.
Called the Crysis 2 DirectX 11 Ultra Upgrade, the three-part, 2.32GB release is a free visual upgrade add-on that introduces DirectX 11 tessellation, a wealth of graphical improvements for both DirectX 9 and 11, and a high-resolution texture pack only suitable for use on graphics cards with 1GB of video RAM.
As mentioned, DirectX 11 hardware tessellation is the headline feature, but the Ultra Upgrade also introduces soft shadows with variable penumbra, improved water rendering, and particle motion blur and shadowing. Having been originally omitted from CryEngine 3, Parallax Occlusion Mapping has been reintroduced, as has full-resolution High Dynamic Range motion blur, making the games use of camera panning more detailed and defined. To improve performance further hardware-based occlusion culling has been implemented, resulting in performance improvements from objects and scenery out of view not being rendered.
Click for an animated example of the Ultra Upgrade's enhanced visual effects.
If your copy of Crysis 2 works through EA Download, EA Origin, Steam, or another digital distribution service with uniquely protected game executables do not download the file labelled Patch 1.9 as your copy will have to receive the patch through their services. You are free to download the DirectX 11 update and high resolution packs, however, as they work with all versions of the game just ensure youre patched to version 1.9 before installing them.
Crysis 2 DirectX 11 Ultra Upgrade Download Links HERE:
- Patch 1.9 - 136MB
- DirectX 11 Ultra Upgrade - 545MB
- High Resolution Texture Pack - 1.65GB
