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Left 4 Dead 2's 'The Passing' rolls into town next week
All right, so the Left 4 Dead/Left 4 Dead 2 crossover DLC "The Passing" passed March by. Valve just announced it'll be available for download next week! We're sure the content will still be fresh, and the zombies still putrid, in April! Valve promised to update the official blog next week with more details. Additionally, in the spirit of crossover ... ing ... ness ... the Left 4 Dead blog announced that two songs by the fictional Midnight Riders band have been added to the Rock Band Network. For just one dollar each, you can play "Midnight Ride" and "One Bad Man!" It would be appropriate to gather three friends to play the songs with. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Xbox Live April schedule: Final Fight, Mega Man 10 DLC
Microsoft has unfurled some of its plans for Xbox Live downloadable content for April, including new additions to Games on Demand and Deals of the Week, as well as the April 14th release of Final Fight: Double Impact. On top of that, look for a half-priced The Maw on the week of April 12 and two add-ons for Mega Man 10 this week: Bass and Special Stage 1. Head past the break for the full list. %Gallery-79231%
Left 4 Dead 2 'The Passing' DLC pushed back, priced at 560 Microsoft Points
We're not exactly used to finding out hot scoops on Valve's game projects from Xbox Live's "Inside Xbox" feature "SENTUAMESSAGE," so it was especially odd to us when we heard that Left 4 Dead 2's upcoming Left 4 Dead 1 crossover DLC "The Passing" got an official price (560/$7) -- and an ambiguous new release date of "Spring" -- from the feature. But that's just what the latest episode told us, not to mention a handful of new deets on the DLC, including info on new variations of enemies and a few new weapons. Back at X10 in February, Valve told us that the content was set to arrive on Xbox Live/Steam by "late March," though it seems that the window has been extended a few more months. We've fired off an email to Valve to see if a more solid release date exists, and we'll keep you updated if we hear anything back. In the meantime, we've embedded the Inside Xbox clip after the break. [Via Kotaku]
Left 4 Dead 2 is half-off on Steam through Thursday
Valve's at it again with another midweek sale, this time carefully trimming 50 percent off the price of its latest, Left 4 Dead 2. This brings the game down to the very decent price of $25, until Thursday, March 25 at 4pm PDT -- leaving you ample dollars and cents to stock up on additional ammo for the real zombie apocalypse that will no doubt one day happen. Seriously, it's gonna happen. But, we digress. If digital distribution isn't your thing, L4D2 is also on sale on Amazon today, allowing you to get a physical copy of the game on either the Xbox 360 or PC for the same price. For once, beggars can be choosers! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Details surface about Left 4 Dead series' upcoming expansions
We never thought we'd have to slap a spoiler warning on a post about downloadable content for the Left 4 Dead franchise -- and yet, here we are. The latest episode of GameTrailers TV revealed an intriguing plot point about the pair of new chapters for the original game and sequel. We respect that some of you might want to remain in the dark about the DLC until you finally get your hands on it. For the rest of you, check out the details just past the jump.
Left 4 Dead co-dev Turtle Rock Studios reanimated
You might remember Turtle Rock Studios for its series of excellent Counter-Strike mods or for its work on Left 4 Dead -- a project the studio started in 2005 and only finished after being acquired and eventually absorbed by Valve. Though a majority of its staff now works for the PC gaming juggernaut, Turtle Rock's original CEO Michael Booth has revived the outfit and has begun to rebuild its team of developers. Though we're as yet unsure what projects Turtle Rock is planning, we wish the team the best of luck. Not just because we've loved its games so far, but because we feel an immediate fondness for game developers named after dungeons from A Link to the Past.
Left 4 Dead 1 & 2 to feature cross-platform play between Mac & PC
The initial announcement of Steam for Mac conspicuously omitted the inclusion of the first Left 4 Dead game. The Left 4 Dead blog, however, confirms that the original game will migrate to Mac along with the rest of the announced Valve games in "late Spring." The post makes it sound as if both games will be added at the same time, but that remains unconfirmed. Because of Valve's Steam Play technology, you'll be able to play either game on either Mac or PC, with the ability to share your progress between the two platforms. Even better, you'll be able to play with other people across platforms! "Mac and Windows players can go head-to-head," Valve notes in the announcement, "since both Left 4 Deads are cross-platform compatible. Mac owners can even host their own servers and create their own maps, just like Windows users." Cross-platform play means that all of these new-to-you Valve games are going to come with massive built-in communities.
Valve teases Apple announcement of ... something [update]
We'd love to outright confirm that "OMG, yes, Steam is finally coming to Mac!" but that'd be a lie. Truth is, of the five images that Valve sent out to a handful of outlets (as seen in our gallery below) – each one depicting characters from separate Valve games in some form of faux Mac advertisement (from Half-Life to Left 4 Dead and everything in between) – none provide ironclad confirmation of our suspicion that the developer is likely porting Steam over to OS X. That said, given the presence of six dots at the bottom of each of the five images we've seen so far, suggesting an iTunes-like image gallery with six images, we're hoping for an actual news release in the not-too-distant future ... possibly via that sixth image. For now, we've put in a call to Valve and will be speculating wildly in the meantime. Check out the five screens so far in the gallery below and get to the speculating with us, won't you? Update: Valve kindly sent over the last image, which unfortunately doesn't "OMG confirmed!" our guesses. It is, however, the coolest (fake) ad yet. %Gallery-87236% [Thanks, Joe K]
You've killed 28,981,249,043 zombies in Left 4 Dead 2
You know how you always wonder for that split second what it would be like to murder the paperboy when he rides by on his bike? What? His undeveloped, childish arm can never get the damn paper on your porch! Well, according to figures from the Left 4 Dead Blog, you've killed him. A whole bunch. Or how about the in-laws? Oh man, you murdered them cold-blooded in Left 4 Dead 2. Basically, if every person on the planet was a zombie in the game, you've killed them -- 4.26 times. That would mean you've killed them, resurrected them, killed them again -- ah, you get it. Another interesting figure: if the average height of a zombie is six feet tall, you stacked enough undead corpses end-to-end to circle the globe 1,322 times. You know how that's in italics? That's because it's crazy. In short: you are really good at killing zombies. Hey, don't feel bad for so much genocide! That's how it goes in the zombie apocalypse.
X10: Left 4 Dead 2 'The Passing' DLC in March, L4D1 tie-in DLC to follow
So what's the appropriate greeting for when you pass another survivor in the zombie apocalypse? We'll find out next month, when Valve plans to release the first Left 4 Dead 2 DLC campaign, "The Passing," on Xbox 360 and PC. The Passing will feature non-playable appearances by the original Left 4 Dead cast (those shadowy figures in the background there), who will aid L4D2's four survivors during the third act of the new campaign, which is set in rural Georgia. Not one to leave holes in a good story, Valve will explain the original survivors' frantic journey to Georgia by way of -- yes, it's really happening -- a new DLC add-on for Left 4 Dead 1 (not compatible with L4D2). No additional details were provided about the upcoming L4D1 DLC by Valve at X10 today, but it will follow the release of The Passing campaign and a digital comic (illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming) that will tie together the two DLC stories. Additionally, Valve confirmed that The Passing will also include new arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes, and a new co-op challenge mode. Players will also encounter a new "uncommon common" infected, dubbed the Fallen Survivor, which can drop random items when killed. The Passing is currently on track for a "late March" release. %Gallery-85283%
Left 4 Dead 2 gets bots and SDK fixes in update, 360 patch coming soon
Valve has followed through with its promise to bring bots to Left 4 Dead 2's Versus mode -- which was frantic enough before all the A.I.-controlled ghouls got added in. A recent patch added the functionality and made a few tweaks to the software development kit, which allows players to make awesome levels based on awesome Nintendo 64 games. Check out the full list of changes after the jump. The Steam blog post announcing the patch's release promises that the changes will be integrated into the 360 version of the game via an upcoming title update.
Left 4 Dead 2's Versus mode getting bots, auto-spawn tweaks
Question: What's the only thing scarier than a looming horde of normal-speed zombies? Answer: A looming horde of normal-speed zombies with robot brains. That's the kind of nightmare we'll soon be facing once Valve puts the finishing touches on an update for Left 4 Dead 2, which will add Infected bots to the game's Versus mode to help balance out one-on-one games. In addition, Valve's doing some tweaking to the zombie auto-spawning which occurs during the finale events in Versus mode. Apparently, the developer decided that the average 34.56% chance of survival for the human team was a little too low, and is trying to balance things out by disabling auto-spawning during the campaigns' climaxes. Of course, none of that will matter when the human team is attempting to escape from robot zombies. %Gallery-64704%
Xbox 360 Platinum Hits lineup adds Halo Wars, Orange Box and others
Xbox.com has listed several new games as Platinum Hits, including Fable II (aka Game of the Year Edition), Halo Wars, Left 4 Dead, The Orange Box, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Ninja Gaiden II, Kung-Fu Panda, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Sonic The Hedgehog, and Sonic Unleashed. A Microsoft PR agent couldn't confirm the full list of new Platinum Hits (are we missing any above?), but said that if a game is listed as such on Xbox.com, it's a Platinum Hits title. The changes seem to have taken effect on major retailer sites, as GameStop and Amazon now reflect the discounted Platinum prices (if not always the the Platinum Hits branding), which range from $20–30. With Orange Box requiring only one Jackson ($20), it's now literally a crime to not own it. Conversely, if you're dead-set on committing a crime, buy someone Sonic The Hedgehog or Sonic Unleashed at $20 each. [Thanks, Stephen]
Left 4 Dead 2 goes free-to-play on Xbox Live next weekend
If you've been sitting around on your hands waiting for the next free opportunity to play Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox Live with your friends, well, we think you're a bit strange and should likely find a better habit. That being said, you'll be happy to hear that the game will be free-to-play for all Xbox Live members (even you lower class Silver folks) next weekend, starting promptly at 12:00PM ET on Friday, January 15, and finishing up on Monday the 18th (also at noon, as confirmed to CVG by Microsoft). We can't imagine that those of you still holding out will be convinced of an Xbox Live Gold account's worth after just one weekend, but it certainly can't hurt, now can it? Update: The free weekend has been confirmed for Europe only. A Microsoft representative tells Joystiq the company has "nothing to announce at this time" about a North American promotion. When asked if they had a timetable to announce something, the representative politely said that we'll hear something soon one way or another. %Gallery-64704%
8-bit Left 4 Dead now available
You've salivated over its pixelized undead for long enough, the day has finally come when you can play the retro, 8-bit version of Left 4 Dead that we first told you about in November. The free game is now branded Pixel Force: Left 4 Dead and is apparently the launching pad for a whole Pixel Force franchise forthcoming from creator Eric Ruth. You can feast your fingers on the two-player co-op action right here. [Via Blue's News]
Final day of Steam Holiday Sale wraps up the best-sellers
Okay, this is it: The penultimate batch of offers in the long-running Steam Holiday Sale. For the final day of the long-running promotion, Valve has elected to re-encheapen some of the games that sold like hotcakes in the sale's earlier one-day discounts. Until 9 a.m. PST tomorrow, the following games will be available for the following prices: BioShock - $4.99 Grand Theft Auto IV - $7.49 Torchlight - $4.99 Left 4 Dead 2 - $33.49 Killing Floor - $4.99 Defense Grid: The Awakening - $2.49 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - $2.00 (Yes, two American dollars.)
Left 4 Dead 2's Midnight Riders wish you a Merry Christmas
We were far too busy a-wassailing yesterday to notice, but Valve released a soon-to-be-holiday-classic that we think is going to catch on like wildfire. It's the latest track from Left 4 Dead 2's quartet of bearded troubadours, the Midnight Riders, titled "All I Want for Christmas (Is To Kick Your Ass)." It's a lot like that one song with the similar title, only ... with more ass-kicking, we guess. Unsurprisingly, it's not suitable for work -- but incredibly suitable for your family gatherings. Click past the jump to rekindle that holiday spirit.
Valve releases Left 4 Dead 2 PC SDK just in time for the holidays
Left 4 Dead 2 on PC has just received a massive update, with both authoring tools for custom campaigns and a support package for those who just want to play custom games coming down the internet's chimney. That second part might not be so exciting if it weren't for the glorious detail that it "allows running ANY map [their emphasis], including custom maps made for the original Left 4 Dead." All your old favorites like the Mushroom Kingdom (with zombies) and Lego (with zombies) -- totally playable in Left 4 Dead 2. The only thing that the Left 4 Dead 2 Team asked for in return was "to get to play your custom maps" in their game, so let's all do them a favor and get right on that. We're personally hoping to see a Back to the Future 2 (with zombies) mod by the weekend. %Gallery-64704% [Thanks, Cj]
Left 4 Dead 2 PC gets new Steam patch, Russian subtitles
Valve's just served up a fresh update for Left 4 Dead 2 that aims to give our fellow survivors a gnawed-off leg up on the zombie horde. Most of the fixes deal with backend issues, streamlining the lobby system, and making official dedicated servers preferred when searching for team matches. The game now also has Russian subtitles for our comrades defending the Red Square (which, of course, is really a Burger Tank in the deep south). Remember: communication is paramount to winning the war against the undead. Head past the break for the full patch notes.
Left 4 Dead 2 DLC 'The Passing' to feature L4D1 cast
Not content with unleashing a full-blown zombie apocalypse, Valve has come up with the second most socially awkward event imaginable: inviting characters from the original Left 4 Dead to hang out in the sequel's first DLC campaign. Bill, Louis, Zoey and Francis will meet with the stars of Left 4 Dead 2 in "The Passing," which Valve VP of marketing Doug Lombardi calls "the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign." It's targeted for release in early 2010 on Xbox 360 and PC. In addition to a co-op campaign (set in rural Georgia) and a new "co-operative challenge mode of play," The Passing will offer new content for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes. Playing as the L4D2 cast, you can also expect to encounter a new melee weapon, firearm and "uncommon common" zombie. We can't wait to meet up with last year's survivors again ... oh, assuming they really are still survivors.
