Twenty years ago this month, Valve released Half-Life 2. To commemorate the anniversary, the company has rolled out a 20th-anniversary update packed with fresh content and bug fixes. Best of all, Half-Life 2 is currently available for free on Steam, but only until 1 PM ET today, November 18.

One of the most thrilling additions in the update is the inclusion of new commentary tracks, clocking in at 3.5 hours, where the original Half-Life 2 developers share insights into the game's creation. Additionally, the game now supports the Steam Workshop and Steam's new Game Recording feature. The update also addresses various issues that have persisted over the past two decades, such as holes in the game world and disappearing objects. Players can look forward to "cleaner, smoother horizon lines" and higher-resolution lightmaps throughout the game.

Moreover, players can opt for either the original or newer graphics settings for blood and fire effects. A High Quality mode has been introduced, and the aim assist feature has been revamped for a better feel. Another noteworthy change is that Half-Life 2's Episodes 1 and 2 are now integrated into the main game, leading Valve to "reduce the visibility" of the standalone versions on Steam. They will now be accessible via the Tools menu.

In conjunction with the update, Valve collaborated with former GameSpot video producer Danny O'Dwyer's Secret Tape to produce a two-hour documentary on Half-Life 2. The documentary delves into the game's origins, development, and legacy, including the much-speculated Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Kotaku reports that the documentary reveals why Episode 3 never came to fruition and showcases new footage of the game. Set in the Arctic, Episode 3 would have centered around a missing ship, the Borealis.

The game was in development for six months but ended up as a "collection of playable levels in no particular order" with only some story elements. Writer Marc Laidlaw noted that the team was "running out of fuel" and ultimately decided to abandon Episode 3 to focus on finishing Left 4 Dead, which was released in 2008 to great success. Valve engineer David Speyrer reflected that the "tragic and almost comical" aspect of Left 4 Dead's success was that, "By the time we considered going back to Episode 3, the argument was made like, 'Well, we missed it. It's too late now.'" Speyrer admitted that in hindsight, Valve made the "wrong decision." He stated, "We could have definitely gone back and spent two years to make Episode 3." Despite never completing Half-Life 2: Episode 3, Valve did release a new Half-Life game, the VR title Half-Life: Alyx, in 2020, which was critically acclaimed and named GameSpot's Game of the Year.

In other news, the Half-Life 2 20th-anniversary update has propelled the game to a new concurrent player record on Steam.

Source link:   https://www.gamespot.com