Half-Life 2 is formally 20 years previous this weekend, and to mark the event Valve has launched a particular anniversary replace, bundling in a brand-new documentary, commentary, the beforehand separate Episodes 1 & 2, and extra. Oh, and the sport’s free to maintain over the subsequent few days.
Valve’s seminal shooter sequel, which charts the persevering with adventures of bespectacled scientist Gordon Freeman and his deeply erotic love affair with a prising device, launched into the world on sixteenth November, 2004. It was instantly heralded as a basic of the style, and Valve has executed all the things in its energy to not launch a numbered sequel since.
However now, 20 years on, Valve is in a celebratory temper, and – a lot because it did when the unique Half-Life reached the massive two-five final yr – it is launched a particular anniversary replace introducing bonus materials, beforehand separate bits of DLC, and an entire vary of tweaks.
There’s, for starters, a new documentary created by Secret Tape. “It is about much more than simply the making of a recreation,” explains Valve in its announcement. “Operating out of cash. Getting hacked, and an early model being leaked on-line. Being sued by our writer. Attempting to construct Steam. It is all in there!” It is also unearthed numerous previous shows from throughout Half-Life 2’s improvement, which it is shoved on its anniversary web site.
Moreover, Valve has recorded a brand-new Half-Life 2 commentary for its newest replace, and it is also completely bundled Half-Life 2: Episode One, Episode Two, and Misplaced Coast – all beforehand obtainable individually – along with the bottom recreation. That is alongside the addition of built-in Steam Workshop assist, which means everybody can browse and obtain player-created content material from straight inside the recreation.
However that is nonetheless not the top of it. Valve says each map has been regarded over by its stage designers to “repair longstanding bugs, restore content material and options misplaced to time, and enhance the standard of some issues like lightmap decision and fog”. It is also added new graphics settings which means gamers can now select between the unique launch day blood and fireplace results or these launched in Half-Life 2’s later episodes; it is up to date gamepad controls and intention help, and it is also potential to play with solely the very best element fashions in Excessive High quality mode. Full patch notes, in the event you’re curious, will be present in Valve’s announcement.
All of the above is now obtainable as a part of Half-Life 2’s free twentieth anniversary replace on Steam. And in the event you do not already personal a replica of Half-Life 2, it is free to obtain and carry on Valve’s platform, offered you choose it up earlier than Monday, 18th November at 6pm within the UK.
