XboxRainDroplets is a mod that improves PC game graphics by adding effects that were only in Xbox versions

The mod rescues an effect that is a welcome addition that enhances visual fidelity, a feature that was specifically implemented in the console versions.

More stories in the category PC

• Unreal Engine 5.6 is now official and adds the most anticipated plugin
• Free game on Steam until July 9, perfect for the weekend
• Warning: Playing Call of Duty WW2 on PC could put your equipment at risk

The modding community has managed to recover a graphical effect that many will remember from the Xbox versions of Rockstar’s classics, such as the droplet splashes on screen. This atmospheric detail, which enriched the gaming experience in games like GTA III and Vice City, was absent in the original PC versions of these titles. However, thanks to reverse engineering of the Xbox versions, the XboxRainDroplets project aims to bring this effect to an even wider range of titles.

The project is not limited to just GTA titles, as after its success in implementing it in the GTA Stories on PSP and PS2, the list of compatible games has grown considerably. Now, players will be able to enjoy these detailed splashes in titles as varied as the Need for Speed series, the acclaimed Max Payne 2 and 3, the Driver series, the dark Manhunt, the legendary Mafia 1, the stealthy Splinter Cell Blacklist, the vast Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, the violent Scarface, and even the recent GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition.

This mod is launched through an exploit inherited from RenderWare in one of the DirectX calls

Implementing this effect has not proven to be excessively complex in other game engines, which has allowed the fan community to bring it to a wide variety of titles. This demonstrates the dedication and power of the modding community, which not only seeks to preserve the essence of classic video games but also to enrich the gaming experience with details that, at the time, may have gone unnoticed or were not available on all platforms.

The XboxRainDroplets project is a clear example of how small graphical details can revitalize the experience in our most beloved games. Here is the complete list of compatible games as of today:

• Need for Speed (from Underground 2 to Carbon)
• Max Payne 2.
• Max Payne 3.
• Driver 3.
• Driver Parallel Lines.
• Manhunt.
• Mafia 1.
• Splinter Cell Blacklist.
• Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition.
• Scarface.
• GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition.

The community managed to figure out how this effect worked in the Xbox versions to re-implement it on PC, using a modified version of the RenderWare engine that Rockstar specifically implemented in their console versions.