Comparing Original Half-Life 2 to RTX Version

Digital Foundry's latest YouTube offering is a comprehensive, hour-long comparison of Valve's 2004 classic, Half-Life 2, and its upcoming RTX remaster by Orbifold Studios. This ambitious project, leveraging NVIDIA's technology, promises a stunning visual overhaul. Expect enhanced lighting, entirely new assets, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 support, all working together to breathe new life into this legendary title. Best of all, the remaster will be free for existing Steam owners of the original Half-Life 2. The release date, however, remains shrouded in mystery.

A free demo, dropping March 18th, will offer a taste of what's to come, letting players explore the iconic Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. A recent trailer showcased the impressive ray tracing and DLSS 4 performance enhancements, hinting at the visual fidelity to expect.

Digital Foundry's in-depth, 75-minute analysis meticulously compares gameplay footage from both Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt, highlighting the transformative impact of Orbifold Studios' work. The team's dedication to high-resolution textures, advanced lighting, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 integration is clearly evident. While Digital Foundry notes occasional frame rate dips in specific areas, the overall visual upgrade is nothing short of remarkable, delivering a breathtaking revitalization of this beloved game.