id Tech 7 features ten times the geometric detail, and higher texture fidelity of id Tech 6.[4] Moreover the capabilities of the game engine allow it to have a new system called "Destructible Demons", in which enemies' bodies become progressively destroyed and deteriorate in combat as they suffer damage. On PC, id Tech 7 supports Vulkan rendering only.[5] Ray tracing and DLSS were added in June 2021. According to engine developer Axel Gneiting, the engine doesn't have a "main thread"; everything is implemented as jobs.[6]
Improvements in comparison to id Tech 6
1 million fewer lines of code, due in part to the removal of the OpenGL render-engine[7]
Majorly improved particle system as more particles are running on the GPU, which allows for bigger explosions, more atmospheric volumetrics and more vibrant particle effects[11]
The framerate limit has been increased to 1000 FPS. The frame limit was 250 FPS in id Tech 6.[11]
Rewritten jobs-system to use all available CPU-cores more efficiently[11]
Improved post-processing effects, including more detailed anti-aliasing and enhanced motion blur[11]
Support for gameplay areas twice the size of those in id Tech 6[10]