The action-packed brand of high-stakes robbery delivered by Overkill Software's Payday: The Heist might just be pulling off its next job in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Early this morning, an official statement from Overkill game director Ulf Andersson revealed that the Swedish development team will be working on an "in-depth collaboration" with Valve:

"As perceptive gamers will have noticed, several hints have recently been dropped into PAYDAY The Heist, which has led to various rumors. We are excited to be able to confirm that an in-depth collaboration between OVERKILL and Valve is currently in production.

We are working on a very cool blend of PAYDAY and Left 4 Dead. I am sure it is so exciting that it will have some players check into the hospital before we are done."

It was recently announced that dev studio Starbreeze—makers of this year's Syndicate reboot and the Chronicles of Riddick games—would be acquiring Overkill in a bid to grow their intellectual property portfolio. Originally a PlayStation Network exclusive, Payday is also now available on Steam. Payday debuted on the PlayStation Network and then became available on Steam soon thereafter. No word on when we might expect to see the first look at a Payday/L4D crossover but zombies vs. Bank Thieves… that could actually be fun.

OVERKILL announces co-operative initiative between PAYDAY: The Heist and Left 4 Dead! [via Reddit]

The all-white, incredibly temperamental witch of Left 4 Dead fame is terrifying.

She often feels unavoidable, especially if you're playing online with hyperactive, trigger-happy teammates. The echoes of her haunting cries still terrorize my dreams occasionally. (Seriously, I play *that* much Left 4 Dead.)

She's a little less threatening in these cosplay images, though. At least while she's stuck in the frame and not chasing wildly after you. Does someone have a molotov handy just in case?

L4D2 - Ellis has startled the witch [deviantART via Reddit]

When tech guru and Linux fan Michael Larabel visited Valve yesterday, he promised more info and pics than simply saying Steam was coming to Linux. Looks like he's come through.

Larabel has posted images of Left 4 Dead 2 running natively on Linux, and says a release of Steam itself - likely in the form of a beta at first - should be later this year.

In addition to Left 4 Dead 2, selected because of its "stable code base", he says Valve will be bringing other titles to the platform as well.

We're still waiting to hear back from Valve for an official comment on the matter.

Valve's Gabe Newell Talks Linux Steam Client, Source Engine [Phoronix]

Peter König is a concept art legend. Over the past quarter of a century his creature designs, sculptures and animation work have been featured in blockbuster hits like Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers and Cloverfield.

Which is all well and good, but he's also spent the last four years working as a concept artist, modeller and texture artist at Valve, where he's lent his talents to the Left 4 Dead series, Portal 2 and DOTA 2.

While there sadly aren't any images from Portal, and only one from DOTA 2, König's Left 4 Dead stuff is a treasure trove of the walking dead, rotting flesh and rejected designs for special infected that involved shooting rats out of a zombie's stomach.

You can see a nice collection of König's body of work, both in games and cinema, at his personal site.

Last week, a very slick-looking trailer for a Left 4 Dead fan flick appeared online. It set a very sombre, serious tone.

Over the weekend, the actual short film was released. It is not what you'll have been expecting.

If you're at all interested in seeing how it was made, you can check out a behind-the-scenes clip here.

Last week, a very slick-looking trailer for a Left 4 Dead fan flick appeared online. It set a very sombre, serious tone.

Over the weekend, the actual short film was released. It is not what you'll have been expecting.

If you're at all interested in seeing how it was made, you can check out a behind-the-scenes clip here.

Valve action figures. Based on Half-life, Team Fortress, Portal and Left 4 Dead. It was amazing news back in June, but since then, all we've seen is teases. Nothing final. That changes today.

Figure maker NECA took the wraps off the first Left 4 Dead action figure, the Boomer, which isn't due until well into 2012. NECA's figures can be pretty hit-and-miss when it comes to things like proportions and joints, so it's good to see him looking spot-on.

In addition to the Boomer shots, NECA also showed off a prototype image of a Smoker zombie, which is looking just as good.

Valve's Left 4 Dead Boomer – 1st Full-Color Pic Out! [NECA, thanks John!]

Left 4 Dead isn't exactly the most romantic game. It's not romantic at all. But that doesn't mean it isn't a wonderful place to ask for a lady's hand in marriage.

That's exactly what one gamer did. In the above video, things start out normal enough, then the level is ripped apart, and then things get sweet.

The mod was created by RT Frisk for the young man who asked for Jessica's hand. And according to him, she did say "yes"—only after asking him if he was kidding.

Left 4 Dead 2 Proposal [YouTube via Dtoid]

Blood. Zombies. Despair. Cigarette smoke. Guns. They're about all the buttons that need pushing from a Left 4 Dead movie, and this fan-made trailer - for a flick shot in a weekend - gets 'em all.

Don't you go forgetting that Valve Presents: The Sacrifice And Other Steam-Powered Stories goes on sale later this month.

The book collects Left 4 Dead: the Sacrifice, Team Fortress 2: War!, Mac, Loose Canon, Bidwell's Big Plan, Meet the Director and associated materials; and Portal: Lab Rat into one easy to grasp collection with a forward by Australia's own Saxton Hale.

The 208-page hardcover book will run you $25 and, according to Hale at least, it's meant for children and simpletons.