Grand Theft Auto IV RTX Remix Update 1.1.5 Released – A Deep Dive Into the Latest Ray-Tracing Revolution

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The gritty, rain-slicked streets of Liberty City have never looked this real. With Grand Theft Auto IV RTX Remix Update 1.1.5, one of the most ambitious visual mods ever created continues its march toward perfection. What began as a jaw-dropping technical showcase has now matured into a refined, customizable, and increasingly stable way to experience Rockstar’s 2008 classic through the lens of modern graphics technology.

This update isn’t about flashy new features or dramatic redesigns. Instead, Update 1.1.5 focuses on polish, control, and reliability—fixing lingering visual quirks, improving rain behavior, and giving advanced users deeper configuration options. For PC enthusiasts and modding veterans, it represents the most refined version of Liberty City yet.

What Is the GTA IV RTX Remix Mod?

Before diving into the update itself, it’s important to understand exactly what this project is—and what it is not.

The GTA IV RTX Remix mod is not an official remaster from Rockstar Games. Instead, it’s a groundbreaking compatibility mod created by developer xoxor4d, designed to allow NVIDIA’s RTX Remix platform to function with Grand Theft Auto IV. Its purpose is singular but transformative: replacing the game’s original lighting system with full real-time path tracing.

Path tracing simulates how light behaves in the real world. Shadows soften naturally, light bounces realistically between surfaces, neon signs bleed color into rainy streets, and interiors glow with believable ambient illumination. The result is a level of immersion that was simply impossible in 2008.

Crucially, the mod does not include new high-resolution textures or models. Its brilliance lies in providing a pristine, physically accurate lighting foundation. This opens the door for future community-made texture packs, PBR materials, and asset upgrades to truly shine.

That technological leap comes at a cost. Path tracing is extraordinarily demanding, requiring powerful modern GPUs—ideally GeForce RTX 40-series or equivalent—and GTA IV’s notoriously CPU-heavy engine often creates bottlenecks. Performance tuning is not optional; it’s part of the experience.

GTA IV RTX Remix Update 1.1.5 – The Complete Breakdown

Grand Theft Auto IV RTX Remix Update 1.1.5 – Ray-Tracing Guide

Update 1.1.5 is a precision-focused refinement patch, targeting specific visual issues, weather behavior, and user control options based on community feedback.

Area of ImprovementKey Changes in Update 1.1.5
🧩 Visual & Mesh FixesFixed various in-game meshes and glass textures; addressed specific “bergen wood” textures and improved metal surfaces on taxis
🌧️ Weather & Rain SystemTweaked rain particle effects, reduced collision thickness, fixed rain restart bugs, and corrected the “disable raindrop” option on vehicle windows
⚙️ Configuration & ControlAdded the ability to disable projected light coronas and unhide certain textures via the rtx.conf file
🛠️ User Interface (UI)Subtle layout and organization improvements to the in-game configuration menu

Your Step-by-Step Installation & Optimization Guide

Ready to experience Liberty City with path tracing? Follow these steps carefully to avoid common pitfalls.

What You Need First

  • A legitimate, fully updated copy of Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition (Version 1.2.0.59) on Steam or the Rockstar Games Launcher

  • A powerful PC — an NVIDIA RTX 4070 or better is recommended, paired with a strong modern CPU

  • Mod files downloaded only from the official GitHub project page maintained by the developer

The Installation Process

Run the Installer
The downloaded package includes an intuitive installer. The most critical step appears when it prompts you to install a custom fork of FusionFix. You must accept this. FusionFix is an essential community patch that resolves countless base-game bugs, and the included version is specially modified for RTX Remix compatibility. Skipping this step is a leading cause of crashes and instability.

Launch Smartly
Do not launch the game through Steam. Instead, use the newly created .bat files in your game directory. If you encounter heavy stuttering, the file named
_LaunchWithProcessorAffinity_Half_GTA4__Half_Remix.bat
is highly recommended. It intelligently splits the workload across CPU cores, helping mitigate GTA IV’s infamous bottlenecks.

Access the Menus

  • Press Alt + X in-game to open RTX Remix settings (path tracing, DLSS, XeSS)

  • Press F4 to open the Compatibility Mod menu for GTA IV–specific fixes and tweaks

Mastering Performance & Troubleshooting

Performance remains the biggest challenge—and the biggest trade-off—for RTX Remix.

Understanding the CPU Bottleneck

Don’t panic if your high-end GPU isn’t sitting at 99% usage. GTA IV is extremely CPU-heavy, and path tracing magnifies this limitation. This behavior is normal and expected.

Key Settings to Adjust

In-Game Settings (Main Menu)

  • Lower Draw Distance and Detail Distance aggressively

  • Developer-recommended starting values: 30 (Draw) and 40 (Detail)
    This single change offers the largest performance improvement.

Compatibility Menu (F4)

  • Increase Tree Alpha Cutout Value (e.g., to 160)
    This makes distant foliage more blocky but can significantly boost performance.

For AMD GPU Users
The mod works well on AMD hardware. Select XeSS in the Alt + X menu for the best balance between clarity and frame rate.

When All Else Fails

If crashes or glitches persist, the community is your best resource. The project maintains an active Wiki and a dedicated Discord server, where experienced users regularly help troubleshoot system-specific issues.

The Verdict & The Future of Liberty City

Is RTX Remix Update 1.1.5 worth installing? Without question.

For existing users, it’s a mandatory update, fixing visual inconsistencies, improving rain behavior, and unlocking valuable configuration options that enhance both stability and customization. For newcomers, this is the most polished and user-friendly entry point yet.

More importantly, this update solidifies the foundation for what comes next. With lighting now more stable and predictable, the stage is set for the community’s artists to deliver high-definition texture packs, PBR material overhauls, and custom vehicle models that fully leverage path tracing.

The GTA IV RTX Remix project is more than a visual upgrade—it’s a statement. It proves that a beloved classic doesn’t need an official remaster to feel modern. Through passion, technical skill, and community collaboration, Liberty City has been reborn as a living, breathing showcase of what modern PC modding can achieve.

As we look toward the neon future of Grand Theft Auto VI, projects like this ensure that the gritty, tragic heart of Niko Bellic’s story continues to shine—stronger, darker, and more beautiful than ever.  

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