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Grab your axes! Valve announces Left 4 Dead 2

Grab your axes! Valve announces Left 4 Dead 2

l4d_logoMore game. On day one, L4D 2 features more co-operative campaigns, more campaigns and maps for the Versus game modes than L4D 1, plus support for Survival mode out of the box.

Valve is once more taking us toe-to-toe with the zombie horde, this time with an all-new cast of characters, weapons (hell yeah chainsaw!) and baddies set deep in America’s sweltering southern heat.

The new entry to what is now the Left 4 Dead series will also feature new AI that can procedurally alter the game world in response to player performance. Left 4 Dead 2 can alter enemy populations, weather, escape routes, sounds and special effects to save (or punish…) you from that dumb pubby who went AWOL with an auto-shotty.

Get ready for smarter zombies, a smarter game, and a more deadly you on PC and Xbox 360 this November. Click the jump for the press release.

June 1, 2009 – Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2), the sequel to the best-selling and critically-acclaimed co-operative multiplayer thriller.

Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 promises to set a new benchmark for co-operative action games and become one of 2009’s marquee titles.

“A large part of how Left 4 Dead became 2008’s top-selling new IP on Xbox 360 and the PC was the custom-tailored gameplay made possible by the AI Director,” said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. “With the knowledge gained from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set a new benchmark for cooperative action games.”

Set for release on November 17, the title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more.

Introducing the AI Director 2.0, L4D’s dynamic gameplay is taken to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players’ performance. The result is a unique game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience each time the game is played.

Featuring new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch.

Supported by a $10+ million marketing campaign, Left 4 Dead has sold over 2.5 million retail copies since it was released in November of 2008. Left 4 Dead 2 is targeted for release on Xbox 360 and the PC on November 17, 2009, and will be launched worldwide with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign across TV, Outdoor, and Online.

“Left 4 Dead was backed by our most aggressive advertising campaign to date, and resulted in a top 5 showing on two platforms during holiday 2008,” said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. “Left 4 Dead 2 is a larger game and will be supported with even more consumer and retail advertising programs than the original.”

Left 4 Dead 2 will be featured as the cover story on PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazines this month. For more information, please visit www.l4d.com

Fixin' to bag some zombies? Grab yer boomstick

Fixin' to bag some zombies? Grab yer boomstick

Comments

  1. Myrmidon
    Myrmidon wut.

    Because they've updated TF2 a million times, I almost feel gypped that we've only gotten one content update for L4D before the sequel. SAD!

    Also, TF3?
  2. kryyst
    kryyst I can't say I'm surprised. I think L4D was more of a testing the waters game for them then anything. Which isn't me knocking L4D. Just that I'm not surprised that they are instead turning the possibly unexpected popularity of L4D into new revenue with L4D2 instead of just more free/cheap content for L4D.
  3. MiracleManS
    MiracleManS I'm glad they're going to add a new game, I agree with kryyst. Hopefully this is a game they WILL update more.
  4. Koreish
    Koreish Yahtzee!!!
    Frying pans ;D
  5. Vintage86
    Vintage86 Dude this is ridiculous they spend so much time updating tf2 and left 4 dead just came out not even a year ago with bunch of bugs still intact and they're coming out with a new one...
  6. _k
    _k I want to punch someone in the crotch now..............with a steel pipe.
  7. Thrax
    Thrax I'm totally down with this.
  8. fatcat
    fatcat
    the title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more.

    WIN!
  9. _k
    _k But why do I have to buy a new game instead of macro game to unlock them, WHY!?
  10. Idiot_Slayer
    Idiot_Slayer Well, expansion packs are out of style. Its more like Microsoft forced them into a sequel because of how well it did on console.
  11. Linc
    Linc I have to say, I'm still not terribly satisfied with the bug level in the current release. It seems like I can't get through a Vs. match without SOMETHING going wrong in the game.
  12. Preacher
    Preacher I'm totally about these updates and willing to pay for more content. However, I agree with the general consensus that L4D is way too buggy, especially considering Valve's great reputation. The lobby software alone in L4D is craptastic.
  13. GnomeQueen
  14. Sciz
    Sciz So if you didn't know, Left 4 Dead 2 was announced just a few hours ago by Valve at E3. It seems there are completely new characters, new weapons including melee weapons like an axe, frying pan, and chainsaw, as well as some other new shooting weapons and also new zombies including some new special infected. Here are links to 9 videos from IGN.

    Now I am not sure why they are making a second game when it seems like L4D just came out. Well it did. L4D came out Nov 18, 2008 and L4D2 is set for release on Nov 17, 2009. Just short of a year later. I feel that everything that is in L4D2 could've been patched into L4D but oh well. Here is the footage.

    Debut Trailer: http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_trl_keepfighting_60109.html

    Gameplay footage:

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_axeownage_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_saferoom_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_kitchensmoker_052809.html;jsessionid=1n14e54g3smz9

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_alarm_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_dockstart_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_fireammo_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_fryingpan_052809.html

    http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14352245/left-4-dead-2/videos/l4d2_gmp_gardenmaze_052809.html

    Discuss....
  15. Thrax
    Thrax I merged your post into the thread on L4D 2, Sciz.
  16. Sciz
    Sciz
    Thrax wrote:
    I merged your post into the thread on L4D 2, Sciz.

    Ahh, thanks. Didn't see a thread on it. Regardless, my 2 cents. I won't pay over $40 for this new game maybe only $30 even. I mean honestly, I don't see what is so new. It looks to be on the exact same engine with patches of new characters, weapons, and special infected. What's diff besides that you know.
  17. Idiot_Slayer
    Idiot_Slayer There are a bunch of rumors online that L4D 2 will be bundled with a Halflife 2: Episode 3 and something new from Counter Strike? Hmm. I think Valve is crafty I don't know if they have done THAT much work...
    It remains to be seen though.
  18. Koreish
    Koreish The Green Box. I'm calling it right now.
  19. BobbyDigi
    BobbyDigi Thanks Sciz for all the links.

    I'm stoked for this. Would drop $50 to preorder right now.

    -Bobby
  20. fatcat
    fatcat
    Koreish wrote:
    The Green Box. I'm calling it right now.

    I'm throwing my chips here as well...sounds like something Valve would do.
  21. DrLiam
    DrLiam The Black Box.
  22. primesuspect
    primesuspect Got to play a whole campaign in L4D 2 today. Will write it up soon.

    5 second review: tighter, better, more fun, more stuff, new enemies, I like it.
  23. Idiot_Slayer
    Idiot_Slayer That's effing sweet Prime.
  24. Koreish
    Koreish Lucky Duck. How were the new infected?
  25. Ryder
  26. BobbyDigi
    BobbyDigi
    Koreish wrote:
    Lucky Duck. How were the new infected?
    RyderOCZ wrote:

    [Reads article]

    How were the new infected?

    -Bobby
  27. Ryder
    Ryder Lol..I didn't know if it was answered in the article or not.. just wanted to make sure you guys saw it.
  28. Preacher
    Preacher
    Koreish wrote:
    The Green Box. I'm calling it right now.
    I would recommend the Gangrene Box :zombie: as more appropriate.
  29. William "Ahh, thanks. Didn't see a thread on it. Regardless, my 2 cents. I won't pay over $40 for this new game maybe only $30 even. I mean honestly, I don't see what is so new. It looks to be on the exact same engine with patches of new characters, weapons, and special infected. What's diff besides that you know."

    That is the definition of a sequel... honestly don't know why anyone would complain, it's not like this would have all been able to be fitted in an expansion pack, the game is like three times bigger. First one was getting boring, characters I didn't really give a damn about, this one looks much more hilarious.
  30. Koreish
    Koreish Take that back William, Louis is the greatest character since the weighted companion cube.
  31. primesuspect
  32. chrisWhite
    chrisWhite My take on this is that Valve is the most generous game studio out there so I don't feel at all gypped that they're bringing out L4D2 so quickly. I've gotten so much more then my money's worth out of The Orange Box and their Steam sales, not to mention all the updates for things like TF2 and even all the Counter Strike: Source maps. Those guys could charge me $20 for a plastic fork and I'd still not feel taken advantage of.

    Of course, I've played all of these games, if L4D is someone's first and only Valve game I can see how they might be a bit frustrated. IMHO that person should shut their mouth and go buy The Orange Box and stop bitching.
  33. ardichoke
    ardichoke I excitedly pre-ordered L4D and have not been disappointed. I will gladly pre-order L4D2 as well. If it comes bundled with HL2 Ep3 as rumored... well... BONUS! I can't WAIT to take a chainsaw to the horde.
  34. DrLiam
    DrLiam
    bundled with HL2 Ep3 as rumored

    If that's true then you might see me hacking away at the zombie horde as well. :S
  35. Koreish
    Koreish A new Counter Strike is supposedly bundled as well.
  36. chrisWhite
  37. Koreish
    Koreish Oddly enough typing in "L4D2 bundle pack rumors" has this thread come up first in a Google search.
  38. bindlestick
  39. chrisWhite
  40. Koreish
    Koreish Valve does care :D
  41. ardichoke
    ardichoke I wonder if that will get the boycotters to STFU.
  42. Preacher
    Preacher It will get my $$$; My opinion will depend on how much content and enjoyment Valve provides for the cash. Based on their track record, I wouldn't bet against them.

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