Half-Life 2 RTX
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Full version in development
Half-Life 2 RTX - An RTX Remix Project is the second Source game to be built using RTX Remix. It, as the name implies, is a RTX revamp of the original Half-Life 2, similar to how Portal was revamped with Portal with RTX. Being developed by Orbifold Studios, it aims to revamp the entire game with RTX lighting, PBR textures, etc. This game was also promoted by Nvidia via their official YouTube channel.[1]
With the release of the first trailer, the Dr. Kleiner's lab has been revealed, along with an updated HEV suit and revamped models & props. Plus the floor textures now utilizing ray-tracing reflections. A demo version (featuring Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt) was released on March 18, 2025.
Half-Life 2 RTX ships with Source SDK tools, along with 
Hammer++ and Slammin' Source Map Tools.
Features
Half-Life 2 RTX runs on a modified version of Source 2013 Singleplayer (pre-anniversary engine with 
Mapbase) which allows support for DirectX 7 render path, previously deprecated in Orange Box engine branch (also known as Source 2007).
- Real-time ray tracing
- By default, the Source engine only has static bounced lights created during compilation (VRAD). Half-Life 2 RTX (and all games on RTX Remix) has all static lights replaced with lights that are ray traced and bounced in real-time.
- Physically Based Rendering
- A approach that creates realistic reactions to light. Many assets (textures, models) have been remade to take advantage of PBR.
- DirectX 7 render path, Vulkan, Direct3D 12
- Half-Life 2 RTX runs on mat_dxlevel 70, then uses DXVK to translate Direct3D 9 (with feature level 7.0) to Vulkan while also replacing the game assets, then output as Direct3D 12 afterward.
- Nvidia DLSS 4.0 (with Frame Generation)
- A upscaling algorithm developed by NVIDIA, which relies on machine learning. With DLSS, the game runs on lower resolution to improve framerate, then use AI to upscale the game to higher resolutions while also enhancing the image by adding temporal anti-aliasing and makes the image sharper. It also comes with DLSS Frame Generation, which generates a frame (and smoothly transition) between two rendered frame. However using DLSS Frame Generation, will add additional input lag, so using NVIDIA Reflex is recommended to reduce system latency.
- Nvidia Reflex
- NVIDIA Reflex aims to reduces system latency, and makes keyboard & mouse movement more responsive.
History and Updates
The game was first announced in September 9, 2023, with the first trailer released.
In Jan 8, 2024, NVIDIA announces NVIDIA RTX Remix Open Beta, which would allow other Source games such as Garry's Mod, VTMB and many other DirectX 8 & 9 games to have RTX. On that same announcement, a second Ravenholm RTX showcase trailer was released in Jan 8, 2024[2].
A demo version featuring Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt chapter was released on March 18, 2025.
An update was released in April 1, 2025, which added tonemapping to make the image less over-brightened. It also fix crashes and other bugs.
Gallery
A screenshot of
Half-Life 2 RTX, showcasing the ray-traced Kleiner's Lab, from NVIDIA News page.
System Requirements
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External Links
- Announcing Half-Life 2 RTX, An RTX Remix Project Being Built By The Community - NVIDIA News
Half-Life 2 RTX, An RTX Remix Project - Announce Trailer - Release Trailer on YouTube
References
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