Digital Foundry's YouTube channel recently showcased a comprehensive comparison between the original 2004 Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2 RTX, an ambitious remaster spearheaded by Orbifold Studios. This hour-long video highlights the significant visual enhancements achieved using NVIDIA's tools. Orbifold Studios, a team of seasoned modders, promises stunning upgrades including enhanced lighting, new assets, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 support. Best of all, this remaster will be free for existing Steam owners of the original Half-Life 2, although a release date is yet to be announced.
A free demo, launching March 18th, will grant players access to two beloved locations: the eerie Ravenholm and the imposing Nova Prospekt prison. A previous trailer already teased the impressive ray tracing and DLSS 4 performance boosts.
Digital Foundry's in-depth, 75-minute video meticulously analyzes gameplay footage from both demo areas, providing a side-by-side comparison showcasing the dramatic visual improvements. Orbifold Studios' dedication to high-resolution textures, advanced lighting techniques, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 integration is evident. While Digital Foundry's experts praised the results, they did note some occasional frame rate dips in specific areas. Nevertheless, the overall transformation is undeniably breathtaking, revitalizing this classic title.
