Home News Comparing Original Half-Life 2 to RTX Version

Comparing Original Half-Life 2 to RTX Version

by Zoe Mar 17,2025

Comparing Original Half-Life 2 to RTX Version

Digital Foundry's YouTube channel recently unveiled a comprehensive, hour-long video comparing Valve's 2004 classic, Half-Life 2, with 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 contributing to a significantly upgraded experience. Best of all, the 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 offer players a taste of the enhancements in two iconic locations: the chilling Ravenholm and the imposing Nova Prospekt prison. A previous trailer showcased the impressive ray tracing and DLSS 4, promising both visual fidelity and boosted frame rates.

Digital Foundry's in-depth, 75-minute analysis meticulously compares gameplay footage from both versions, highlighting the transformative impact of Orbifold Studios' work. The team's focus on high-resolution textures, advanced lighting techniques, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 integration is clearly evident. While Digital Foundry noted some minor frame rate inconsistencies in specific areas, the overall visual upgrade is undeniably remarkable, revitalizing this legendary game.

Latest Articles More+
  • 17 2025-03
    Where to Stream The Substance Online in 2025

    Four months after its triumphant premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival—where it garnered a 13-minute standing ovation and the Best Screenplay award—Coralie Fargeat's darkly comedic body horror film, The Substance, arrived in US theaters. The film has since garnered significant critical acclaim,

  • 17 2025-03
    Best Open-World Games On Xbox Game Pass (January 2025)

    Quick LinksBest Open-World Games On Game PassS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of ChornobylMinecraftSkyrimPalworldForza Horizon 5Diablo 4Microsoft Flight SimulatorTerrariaGroundedSea Of ThievesYakuza 0ValheimTchiaBatman: Arkham KnightSouth Park: The Fractured But WholeMafia: Definitive EditionDungeons of Hint

  • 17 2025-03
    Assassin's Creed Shadows Rated M18 for Intense Violence and Sexual Content

    Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest entry in the acclaimed franchise, has received an M18 rating from Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) due to its intense violence and suggestive sexual content. Set during Japan's Sengoku period, players control two protagonists: Naoe, a skil