We’re currently facing a challenging time for PC gaming optimization, highlighted by titles like 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Borderlands 4. Many developers, including Randy Pitchford, suggest improving hardware instead of addressing optimization issues directly.

However, there may be alternative solutions. Recently, Goonya’s Animations, a modder and YouTuber, demonstrated how to run a map designed for Half-Life 2 within Half-Life 1’s GoldSrc engine with minimal visual compromises.

In a video titled “This is GoldSrc”, Goonya showcases the map in action, beginning with a walkthrough of its Half-Life 2 rendition. Goonya leveraged standard assets from Half-Life 2 while adapting it for GoldSrc, achieving remarkable results with minimal resource consumption.

Despite the limitations of GoldSrc’s engines, Goonya optimizes the map for an ancient Pentium 4 laptop from 2002, showcasing smooth performance.