Half-Life 2 RTX
HL2 RTX
Release Date: TBA
Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, remaster/remake, shooters, singleplayer, mods
A fan-made remaster of Half-Life 2 - a cult first-person shooter from 2004. Half-Life 2 RTX was prepared with the support of Nvidia, along with Valve's blessing. This version is meant as a demonstration of various technologies offered by modern graphic cards, with ray tracing option being the most important innovation.
Half-Life 2 RTX is a result of the fan initiative aimed at visually refreshing Half-Life 2 - a first-person shooter released in 2004, which quickly gained cult status. The authors of this modification, gathered in the Orbifold Studios group, previously co-created other popular mods, namely Half-Life 2: VR, Half-Life 2: Remade Assets, as well as Project 17 and Raising the Bar: Redux.
This free project received the blessing of Valve Corporation (responsible for creating the original and owning the rights to the Half-Life brand), as well as support from the technology company Nvidia.
Mod contents
As the title suggests, Half-Life 2 RTX focuses on improving the graphics of the original Half-Life 2. It was thoroughly modernized by the authors, who enriched the second installment of Gordon Freeman's adventures with full support for ray tracing technology, ensuring realistic lighting and reflections. This is not the end, as the authors have also prepared a number of new textures, improved models, which have gained in detail, and also upgraded the whole to 4K resolution.
In addition to RTX Remix technology, which uses RTX Neural Rendering (rendering based on so-called machine learning), Half-Life 2 RTX also uses Nvidia DLSS 4 solutions (with Multi Frame Generation) and Nvidia Reflex, improving the smoothness and responsiveness of the game.
Story and gameplay
Half-Life 2 RTX does not introduce changes to the plot or gameplay mechanics compared to the original. We once again end up in City 17, where as Gordon Freeman we have to face the Combine soldiers and various creatures from another world. We gradually discover the next chapters of the story and solve puzzles along the way, most of which are based on physics.
Puzzles often involve the need to use the so-called Gravity Gun, a special weapon that manipulates gravity and allows us to move objects and throw them at targets. This weapon and its unique functionality is also useful on the battlefield.
Game modes
Unlike the original, which featured both a story campaign and a multiplayer mode, Half-Life 2 RTX only allows for single-player.
Required game
Half-Life 2 RTX requires the base version of Half-Life 2 to operate.
Videos and Screens
[1:44] Half-Life 2 RTX - Announcement Trailer
9
GAMES
in Half-Life Game Series
Game Series
Half-Life Series
A hugely popular series of first-person shooters (FPS) in science fiction climates. The series was created by Valve Software studio with support from Gearbox Software and Taito Corporation, among others.
9 video games
Half-Life 2 RTX Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Orbifold Studios
Publisher: Orbifold Studios
Age restrictions: 18+
Half-Life 2 RTX System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, 50 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit
Another reason to replay Half Life 2 as a new RTX demo mod is out today
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March 18, 2025
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Thanks to an interview with the developers of Half-Life 2 RTX, we learned a number of more interesting things about this quasi-remaster of Valve's classic FPS.
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Adrian Werner
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