id Software has released a patch for the PC version of Rage, adding a number of graphical tweaks to the menus that were previously only accessible by altering the game's configuration files.
The new settings include support for VSync, scalable antisotropic filtering, and the ability to increase the size of the texture cache. These tweaks should help to fix the muddy textures and screen tearing issues many gamers have experienced. Additionally, the update fixes many of the compatibility problems with AMD hardware, which have also been eased by a new batch of drivers.
In an unusual move, the notes for the patch include an explanation of sorts from the development team, shedding some light on why these options were omitted in the first place.
"RAGE defaults to lower video settings to allow the game to work on a wide variety of hardware and software configurations. Unfortunately, it is not possible to anticipate all possible graphics driver issues in combination with unique end user hardware and software configurations.
"For this reason RAGE does not automatically increase video/graphics settings as this could result in negative side effects on specific hardware and software configurations. The original release of RAGE does not expose many video/graphics options for people to tweak because some of these settings, although desirable from a quality perspective, simply will not work on specific configurations either due to hardware limitations and/or driver bugs.
"Due to popular demand for more video and graphics options, this patch updates the video settings menu and exposes several quality and performance settings. However, not everyone may be able to increase the settings due to hardware limitations and/or driver bugs."
These changes should hopefully move Rage towards a playable state on the PC after a tumultuous launch that sparked fan outrage and developer frustration. id's creative director, John Carmack, even went so far as to call the game's driver issues a "real clusterfuck," citing compatibility problems as a core reason PCs are no longer viewed by his company as the "leading platform for games."
