Digital Foundry's YouTube channel has recently released an extensive hour-long video that meticulously compares the original 2004 release of Half-Life 2 with its upcoming remaster, Half-Life 2 RTX. This project, spearheaded by Orbifold Studios—a team renowned for their modding prowess—is set to revolutionize the game's visuals with enhancements such as improved lighting, new assets, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 support. Excitingly, this remaster will be available for free to those who own the original game on Steam, although a specific release date has yet to be announced.
Starting March 18, gamers can dive into a free demo, exploring two iconic settings: the eerie, abandoned city of Ravenholm and the formidable Nova Prospekt prison. A recent trailer has already given fans a glimpse of the game's enhanced ray tracing and DLSS 4 technology, promising smoother gameplay with boosted frame rates.
The video, which clocks in at a record-breaking 75 minutes, features detailed analyses by experts who juxtapose gameplay footage from Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. They showcase the stark visual improvements achieved by Orbifold Studios, emphasizing the remaster's transformative effect on the classic game.
Orbifold Studios is diligently working on integrating high-resolution textures, advanced lighting techniques, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 into Half-Life 2 RTX. While Digital Foundry's experts were impressed by the overhaul, they did note some occasional frame rate dips in specific areas. However, the overall consensus is that the remaster breathes new life into the iconic title, promising a visually stunning experience for fans and newcomers alike.
