Digital Foundry's YouTube channel has unveiled an extensive hour-long video, diving deep into a comparison between the iconic Half-Life 2 from 2004 and its upcoming remaster, Half-Life 2 RTX. Developed by Orbifold Studios, a team renowned for their modding prowess, this project promises to rejuvenate the classic game with stunning visual enhancements. These include upgraded lighting, fresh assets, ray tracing, and the integration of DLSS 4 technology. Fans of the original will be thrilled to know that this remaster will be available for free to those who own Half-Life 2 on Steam, although a specific release date has yet to be announced.
Starting March 18, gamers can get a taste of the remaster through a free demo, featuring two of the game's most memorable settings: the eerie, abandoned city of Ravenholm and the foreboding Nova Prospekt prison. A recently released trailer has already given viewers a glimpse into the game's advanced ray tracing capabilities and the performance-enhancing DLSS 4 technology.
The video from Digital Foundry, clocking in at a record-breaking 75 minutes, offers a detailed analysis of gameplay footage from Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt. It meticulously showcases the visual leap from the original to the remastered version, with experts highlighting the significant enhancements brought by Orbifold Studios.
Orbifold Studios is diligently working on high-resolution textures, sophisticated lighting, ray tracing, and DLSS 4 for Half-Life 2 RTX. While Digital Foundry's experts have praised the transformation, they've pointed out some occasional frame rate drops in specific areas. Nevertheless, the overall effect is a remarkable revival, injecting new vitality into this legendary title.
