Buy the PC Enhanced Edition if your computer has a ray-tracing-capable GPU. It replaces the original lighting and reflection pipeline with fully ray-traced lighting and adds DLSS 2.0 support on compatible NVIDIA hardware. It is a separate PC client, but existing owners receive it as a free upgrade.
Choose the PC Standard Edition when your graphics card cannot perform hardware ray tracing or when you need the lower published requirements. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, use the enhanced console version for fully ray-traced lighting and 60 FPS features. If you are buying a physical console copy for the first time and want every story expansion, choose Complete Edition; it bundles the base game with The Two Colonels and Sam’s Story.
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The short answer
The right edition depends on two things: your platform and your graphics hardware.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- New PC with a ray-tracing-capable GPU: choose Enhanced Edition.
- PC without hardware ray tracing: choose Standard Edition.
- Existing PC owner: claim the separate Enhanced Edition download at no additional charge if your hardware meets its minimum requirement.
- PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S: use the enhanced console version for ray-traced lighting and 60 FPS features.
- First physical console purchase with all story content wanted: choose Complete Edition.
Enhanced is not simply a texture pack or a higher-resolution setting. On PC it is a separate client because the rendering changes are extensive. That separation is why the hardware requirement is much stricter than Standard Edition’s.
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What actually changes between Enhanced and Standard on PC?
Enhanced Edition’s rendering technology
The Enhanced Edition uses a fully ray-traced lighting approach rather than the original rendering path. Ray tracing calculates how light travels, bounces and interacts with surfaces, so illumination, shadows and reflections can respond more naturally to the environment. The result is a more demanding but more consistent lighting model, particularly in scenes with artificial lights, reflective surfaces and complex shadowing.
NVIDIA describes the PC release as including ray-traced reflections and DLSS 2.0. DLSS can render internally at a lower resolution and reconstruct the image to improve performance on supported NVIDIA hardware. DLSS availability does not remove the ray-tracing requirement: the Enhanced Edition still requires a ray-tracing-capable GPU as part of its minimum specification, according to the Epic Games Store listing.
Standard Edition’s original rendering path
Standard Edition uses the original graphics pipeline and therefore runs on substantially older hardware. PLAION’s published baseline lists Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10, an Intel Core i5-4440-class processor, 8 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 670 or GTX 1050-class GPU or Radeon HD 7870-class graphics, DirectX 11 and 59 GB of available storage.
Those figures are the published baseline for Standard Edition, not a promise of a particular frame rate or image-quality preset. A computer that meets only the minimum may need reduced settings and resolution. The important distinction is that Standard does not require hardware ray tracing, while Enhanced does.
Why the PC versions are separate downloads
The visual changes are extensive enough that Enhanced Edition is distributed as a separate client rather than as a switch inside the original installation. If you own Metro Exodus already, the publisher says the Enhanced entitlement is free; you download the separate version and use it only when your system meets the ray-tracing requirement.
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PC requirements and the hardware decision
Use the table below to decide before downloading or buying. Enhanced’s minimum requirement is expressed by capability—ray-tracing support—rather than by one universal GPU model. Standard’s figures are the specific published baseline from PLAION support documentation.
| Edition | Graphics requirement | Processor and memory | Operating system/API | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Enhanced Edition | Ray-tracing-capable GPU required as part of the minimum specification | Exact processor and RAM figures are not stated in the cited Epic listing | Not stated in the cited Epic listing | Not stated in the cited Epic listing |
| PC Standard Edition | GeForce GTX 670 or GTX 1050 class, or Radeon HD 7870 class | Intel Core i5-4440 class; 8 GB RAM | Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10; DirectX 11 | 59 GB available space |
“Ray-tracing-capable” is the deciding test for Enhanced. A card that is fast in conventional rasterized games but lacks hardware support for ray tracing does not satisfy that minimum. Conversely, owning a compatible GPU does not guarantee a fixed frame rate: performance depends on resolution, quality settings, driver state and whether an upscaler such as DLSS is used.
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How to choose when your PC is borderline
- Identify the GPU model. Check Windows’ Display settings, Device Manager or the graphics driver panel and note the exact model, not just the amount of video memory.
- Confirm hardware ray tracing. If the model does not support hardware ray tracing, plan on Standard Edition.
- Check free space. Standard’s published requirement is 59 GB. Leave additional room for the installer and updates rather than treating 59 GB as a comfortable working margin.
- Compare the rest of the system with the published baseline. Standard lists an i5-4440-class CPU and 8 GB RAM. Enhanced’s ray-tracing requirement is the first gate, but CPU and memory still affect overall performance.
- Choose the client that matches the result. Do not install Enhanced solely because it is free; it is useful only on a system that can meet its ray-tracing requirement.
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: which version should you use?
The publisher’s 2021 console announcement describes the enhanced versions as delivering “fully ray-traced lighting, 4K visuals* and 60 FPS.” The asterisk matters: 4K applies to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, while Xbox Series S outputs at 1080p.
| Console | Lighting | Frame-rate feature | Published output detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Fully ray-traced lighting | 60 FPS feature | 4K visuals |
| Xbox Series X | Fully ray-traced lighting | 60 FPS feature | 4K visuals |
| Xbox Series S | Fully ray-traced lighting | 60 FPS feature | 1080p output |
For these current-generation consoles, there is no reason to select the older visual presentation when the enhanced version is available. Existing owners receive the upgrade free, according to the publisher’s announcement. New buyers should select the current enhanced console release associated with their platform.
What the resolution figures do—and do not—mean
The 4K wording applies to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, not Xbox Series S. The Series S specification is 1080p. The announcement identifies the target visual and frame-rate features but does not establish that every scene maintains a locked 60 FPS under every condition, so treat “60 FPS” as the platform feature described by the publisher rather than an independent performance guarantee.
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Complete Edition: what is included and who should buy it?
The physical console Complete Edition contains three pieces of content:
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- The Two Colonels, a story expansion.
- Sam’s Story, a story expansion.
That makes Complete Edition the straightforward choice for a first physical console purchase when you want the full single-player story package in one box. It avoids having to obtain the two expansions separately later.
Complete Edition is a content bundle, not a different PC rendering mode. On PC, the Enhanced-versus-Standard decision is about the client and graphics technology; on a physical console purchase, Complete Edition answers the separate question of whether both expansions are included.
Storage planning for the complete console package
The publisher’s console page lists approximately 80 GB for the digital installation when all three components are installed: 72.2 GB for the base game, 1 GB for The Two Colonels and 6.4 GB for Sam’s Story. Those figures total about 79.6 GB, rounded to approximately 80 GB. Reserve extra capacity for system overhead and updates.
| Content | Published size |
|---|---|
| Metro Exodus base game | 72.2 GB |
| The Two Colonels | 1 GB |
| Sam’s Story | 6.4 GB |
| All three together | Approximately 80 GB |
If you already own Metro Exodus
Do not buy the game again before checking your existing entitlement. The publisher states that the enhanced console versions are a free upgrade for current owners, and the PC Enhanced Edition is also provided as a free entitlement for existing owners. On PC, remember that Enhanced is a separate client, so the library may show an additional install rather than converting the original installation in place.
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- Use the account that owns Metro Exodus. The free entitlement is tied to existing ownership, so switching storefront accounts can make the upgrade appear unavailable.
- Look for the separate Enhanced Edition entry. Its separate-client structure means it may be listed alongside, rather than inside, Standard Edition.
- Check the platform and hardware requirement. Console owners need the corresponding PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S version; PC users need a ray-tracing-capable GPU.
- Install only the version your system can use. Keeping Standard remains sensible on a PC without hardware ray tracing, even when Enhanced is available at no charge.
The free upgrade does not turn every purchase into the Complete Edition content bundle. If your original ownership does not include an expansion, the upgrade statement should not be read as a promise that the expansion is newly added. Complete Edition is the package to choose when you specifically want the base game plus both named story expansions.
Enhanced versus Standard: feature-by-feature comparison
| Question | Enhanced Edition | Standard Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering path | Fully ray-traced lighting; ray-traced reflections are described for the PC release | Original rendering path |
| PC GPU requirement | Ray-tracing-capable GPU required at minimum | Older DirectX 11-class hardware supported by the published baseline |
| DLSS | DLSS 2.0 available on supported NVIDIA hardware | Not identified in the supplied specifications |
| PC distribution | Separate client | Original client |
| Existing-owner price | Free entitlement for current owners | Already owned or purchased as the original release |
| Console lighting | Fully ray-traced lighting on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S | Not the current enhanced console presentation |
| Console frame-rate feature | 60 FPS feature on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S | Not applicable to the enhanced-console comparison |
Common buying mistakes
Buying Enhanced for a non-ray-tracing PC
Enhanced is not the “better settings” option for every computer. The ray-tracing-capable GPU requirement is explicit. If your card cannot perform hardware ray tracing, Standard is the compatible choice.
Assuming DLSS makes any GPU compatible
DLSS 2.0 can improve performance on supported NVIDIA hardware, but it does not replace the required ray-tracing capability. Upscaling is a performance feature after the compatibility requirement has been met.
Confusing 4K with every Series console
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are the consoles identified with 4K visuals. Xbox Series S is identified with 1080p output. Do not choose a Series S expecting the same published resolution target as Series X.
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Existing owners should check for the free Enhanced entitlement first. The PC version’s separate-client design can make the upgrade look like a new product even though the publisher describes it as free for current owners.
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Choosing a base-game copy when you want both expansions
A standard base-game purchase does not communicate the same content inclusion as Complete Edition. For a first physical console purchase, verify that the package explicitly includes The Two Colonels and Sam’s Story.
Which edition should you buy? Decision guide
Scenario 1: New PC with RTX-capable graphics
Choose Enhanced Edition. You get the fully ray-traced lighting approach, ray-traced reflections and, on supported NVIDIA hardware, DLSS 2.0. Confirm that the rest of the computer and available storage are adequate before installing.
Scenario 2: Older gaming PC or integrated graphics
Choose Standard Edition. Its published baseline reaches back to Windows 7/8/10, DirectX 11 and GPUs in the GTX 670/GTX 1050 or Radeon HD 7870 class. Enhanced’s minimum ray-tracing requirement makes it the wrong target for hardware without that capability.
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Scenario 3: You own the PC game already
Claim Enhanced rather than purchasing another copy, provided the computer has a ray-tracing-capable GPU. Keep the Standard client available if you need a version compatible with older hardware.
Scenario 4: You play on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X
Use the enhanced console version. It is the version built around fully ray-traced lighting and the publisher’s 60 FPS feature, with 4K visuals identified for both platforms.
Scenario 5: You play on Xbox Series S
Use the enhanced Series S version, but set expectations at the published 1080p output rather than 4K. You still receive the fully ray-traced lighting and 60 FPS features described for the current-generation console release.
Scenario 6: You are buying a physical console copy and want all stories
Choose Complete Edition. It includes the base game, The Two Colonels and Sam’s Story, and the listed full installation is approximately 80 GB.
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Final recommendation
Enhanced Edition is the best technical version when your platform can support it: ray-tracing-capable PC hardware, or a PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X|S console. Standard Edition remains the practical and compatible choice for PCs without hardware ray tracing because its published requirements are much lower. Existing owners should use the free upgrade before spending money again, while first-time physical console buyers who want the complete narrative should select Complete Edition for its two included expansions.
Quick Recap
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