Original Half-Life 2 vs RTX: A Comparison

Digital Foundry's YouTube channel has released an extensive hour-long video that delves into the comparison between the original Half-Life 2 from 2004 and the upcoming Half-Life 2 RTX remaster. Developed by Orbifold Studios, a team of seasoned modders, this project utilizes NVIDIA's advanced tools to bring significant visual enhancements to the iconic game. These include upgraded lighting, new assets, ray tracing, and support for DLSS 4. Notably, this remaster will be available at no additional cost to those who already own Half-Life 2 on Steam, although a specific release date has not yet been announced.

Starting March 18, fans can get a taste of the remaster through a free demo, which will feature two memorable settings from the game: the desolate city of Ravenholm and the Nova Prospekt prison. A recent trailer has highlighted the remaster's impressive ray tracing capabilities and the performance enhancements provided by DLSS 4 technology.

The video, clocking in at a record-breaking 75 minutes, offers a detailed analysis of gameplay footage from both Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. Experts from Digital Foundry meticulously compare the visuals of the remastered version against the original, showcasing the significant improvements achieved by Orbifold Studios.

The team at Orbifold Studios is focused on implementing high-resolution textures, advanced lighting techniques, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 into Half-Life 2 RTX. While Digital Foundry's experts were impressed with the overall transformation, they did note some occasional frame rate drops in specific areas. Nevertheless, the remaster successfully breathes new life into this legendary game, offering a visually stunning experience that honors the original while pushing the boundaries of modern graphics technology.