Digital Foundry's YouTube channel has released an in-depth hour-long video comparing the original Half-Life 2 from 2004 with the upcoming remaster, Half-Life 2 RTX. This project, spearheaded by Orbifold Studios, a team of seasoned modders, aims to deliver significant visual enhancements. These upgrades include advanced lighting, new high-resolution assets, ray tracing, and support for DLSS 4 technology. Excitingly, this remaster will be available for free to those who already own Half-Life 2 on Steam, though an official release date is yet to be announced.
Starting March 18, players can dive into a free demo of Half-Life 2 RTX, exploring two iconic settings: the eerie abandoned city of Ravenholm and the foreboding Nova Prospekt prison. A recent trailer has already given fans a glimpse of the remaster's impressive ray tracing effects and the performance-enhancing DLSS 4 technology.
The detailed 75-minute video from Digital Foundry meticulously examines gameplay footage from these two locations, Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. It offers side-by-side comparisons with the original, showcasing the stunning visual improvements achieved by Orbifold Studios. The modding team's efforts include high-resolution textures, enhanced lighting, and the integration of ray tracing alongside DLSS 4.
While Digital Foundry's experts have been thoroughly impressed by the transformation, they did note some occasional frame rate drops in certain areas. However, the overall impact of these upgrades on Half-Life 2 is nothing short of remarkable, effectively rejuvenating this classic game for a new generation of players.
