iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
On PC, choose Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition if your graphics card supports ray tracing and you want the game’s fuller ray-traced lighting and reflections. Choose the original if your GPU does not support ray tracing or you need the less demanding version. The official descriptions focus on rendering and hardware; they do not establish a story or core-gameplay difference. If you already own the PC game on Epic Games Store, Steam, or GOG, 4A Games said Enhanced Edition would be provided as a free, separate entitlement.
What changes in the Enhanced Edition?
The main difference is how the PC version renders light. The original already supported ray tracing on compatible high-end PCs; Enhanced Edition broadens ray-traced lighting across the experience and adds advanced ray-traced reflections. So the choice is not simply ray tracing versus no ray tracing: it is a more comprehensive implementation versus the original’s rendering features.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Metro Exodus: Complete Edition - PlayStation 5 | $22.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Playstation 5 Digital Edition PS5 Gaming Console (Renewed) | $725.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Lighting and reflections
4A Games describes Enhanced Edition as using an all-new, fully ray-traced lighting pipeline. The launch announcement also says ray-traced emissive lighting—previously used in The Two Colonels—was brought throughout the main game. NVIDIA’s technical explanation says emissive ray-traced lighting extends to the main game and Sam’s Story. Enhanced Edition also adds advanced ray-traced reflections. 4A Games’ announcement and NVIDIA’s technical overview describe these changes.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
DLSS and field of view
4A Games lists DLSS support and identifies a Field of View slider as a first for the series. Its launch post specifies DLSS 2.1, while NVIDIA’s 2021 overview describes DLSS 2.0; those are claims from dated launch materials, not a guarantee that every current storefront build reports the same version. NVIDIA also claimed “2X faster at 4K” with DLSS 2.0 enabled. That is NVIDIA’s vendor-published claim from 2021, not a universal result or an independent comparison across today’s hardware.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced for PlayStation 5 - optimized for platform specific features including 60 FPS up to 4K resolution, Ray Traced lighting and DualSense Haptic Feedback support
- The Complete Package - includes Metro Exodus and all DLC content - The Two Colonels and Sam’s Story
- Experience Sandbox Survival - flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and follow a gripping story that links together classic Metro gameplay with huge, non-linear levels
- Deadly combat and stealth - scavenge and craft in the field to customize your arsenal of hand-made weaponry, and engage human and mutant foes in thrilling tactical combat
- Explore a hostile world - embark on journey that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter - Discover the Russian wilderness, brought to life with day / night cycles and dynamic weather
Which edition should you play on PC?
| Your situation | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Your GPU supports ray tracing and you want the expanded lighting and reflections. | Enhanced Edition | Its defining changes are the broader ray-traced lighting pipeline and added ray-traced reflections. |
| Your GPU does not support ray tracing. | Original | PLAION says Enhanced Edition requires an Nvidia RTX or AMD RX GPU; its page does not name one universal minimum model for Enhanced. |
| You want a less demanding option or your system is closer to the original’s published minimum requirements. | Original | The original’s listed minimum graphics cards include older models; Enhanced has the additional ray-tracing requirement. |
| You already own the PC game on Epic Games Store, Steam, or GOG. | Check for Enhanced Edition in that account | 4A Games announced a free, separate entitlement for existing owners on those storefronts. |
Check your PC against the requirements
PLAION’s requirements page lists the original’s minimum as 8 GB RAM, 59 GB of storage, and a GeForce GTX 670, GTX 1050, or AMD Radeon HD 7870 graphics card. Its recommended graphics listing includes a GeForce GTX 1070, GeForce RTX 2060, or AMD RX Vega 56. These are the values published for the original; they should not be mistaken for a confirmed Enhanced Edition minimum. PLAION explicitly says Enhanced Edition requires an Nvidia RTX or AMD RX GPU, but does not give one universal minimum model. Check the current storefront requirements against your exact card before installing or buying. PLAION’s support page provides the published requirements.
Neither those requirements nor the cited launch claims establish a frame rate for your particular PC. Performance depends on the hardware and settings; there is no basis here for promising that either edition will hit a specific target on your system.
Rank #2
- Latest AMD Ryzen Processing Unit: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity. Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- 【Up to 8K Output+Latest gaming controller 】The console supports 8K output through HDMI 2.1 support, Latest gaming controller features real-time sound & tactile feedback brings you feel your favorite games on the next level
- 【Up to 120fps with 120Hz output: 】Enjoy smooth and fluid high frame rate gameplay at up to 120fps for compatible games, with support for 120Hz output on 4K displays
- 8K output 4K TV: PS5 consoles support an 8K output, so you can play games on your 4320p resolution display. Play your favorite PS5 games on your stunning 4K TV. Bundle with Tanidoy Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
Is Enhanced Edition a separate game or a free upgrade?
On PC, 4A Games said the extensive upgrade could not be delivered as a simple patch and would be a separate product. The developer announced that existing owners on Epic Games Store, Steam, and GOG would receive an extra entitlement at no charge. Look in the relevant account or storefront library to confirm current access rather than assuming the edition is installed automatically. The announcement described the entitlement when it was made on February 15, 2021. Read the developer’s announcement.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →What about PlayStation and Xbox?
4A Games’ announcement confirms upgrades for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the Xbox store lists an Enhanced Edition. The available platform information here does not establish a detailed comparison of console resolution, frame rates, graphics settings, or each platform’s upgrade path. For a console decision, check the current store listing for your platform and version rather than applying the PC hardware recommendation. 4A Games’ announcement; Xbox store listing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
