Left 4 Dead is quite possibly my favorite multiplayer game of all time. Those of you who have experienced either the Xbox 360 or PC iterations knows how I feel- the game is just incredibly replayable, way beyond anything that’s out there. It’s one of the most fun and frantic games you’ll ever play, and the way it forces you to work as a team is like no other game before it. Hell, even the achievements alone are heads above other games- because they actually feel like achievements! (I’m still coming for you, Zombie Genocidist…)
Valve announced today that there’s more on the way. First up is the new DLC for the game, entitled the Left 4 Dead Survival Pack. It’s going to hit this spring and feature a brand new multiplayer mode entitled Survival, and include two complete campaigns for Versus mode. I’m assuming those are Death Toll and Dead Air, the two campaigns we’ve been missing from that mode in the full game. The update will be free for PC users but Microsoft forces companies to charge for DLC on the 360, so expect to pay 5 or 10 bucks for lesser service, as usual.
PC Gamers have even more to get excited about, as Valve will also be releasing the Source Software Development Kit (Source SDK) that allows for custom L4D campaigns. That will be free as well! Sometimes it just pays to be a PC gamer…
There will also be a Critic’s Choice Edition of the game hitting
retail stores that will include all of the new content, so newbies can jump right in on the fun.
“Since Half-Life launched in 1998, Valve has made continuous efforts to expand the offering of its products beyond what’s included on the day of launch,” said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. “With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we’ve learned that we’re no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services. With Left 4 Dead we’re extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences.”
It would have been nice to hear an announcment about new weapons or enemies, but I will buy or download every goddamn piece of DLC for this game that’s ever created. Till then, send out some Left 4 Dead Valentines and walk around with your head held high, because this is a bright and shining day.