Halloween is almost here, and we know a lot of you are pretty scared. Normally, our advice would be to try to keep it together and just ride this thing out. But this year, we have a better idea: let Steam be your safe harbor from the terror that will probably be haunting your, say, house, for instance.

With that in mind, from now through October 31st, we're offering discounts on a bunch of great games. Oh, these discounts will be shocking. Though they won't be scary in any meaningful way. Let these insane - but deliberately, rationally insane - deals be the one good, pure thing you cling to throughout the dark days ahead. Not sold? What if we told you that for every game you buy, we promise to try to kill a monster. Like maybe a skeleton. In fact, that's our Steam Halloween pledge to you: Sensible savings and we are going to murder a skeleton.

Portal 2 is available at 50% off now through Thursday at 4pm Pacific Time.

Also, FREE DLC just released! Peer Review is the first DLC for Portal 2, the year's most brain-bending action-adventure game. Featuring a devious new co-op track that continues the story of Atlas, P-Body and GLaDOS, the DLC also includes both single and multiplayer challenge modes, plus leaderboards so you can compare your portal placement and time scores with the Portal community.

The International, the inaugural Dota 2 Championships happening this week at Gamescom, has reached the final stage with two teams left in the hunt for the $1 million first place prize.

The International Finals will feature Na'Vi against EHOME in a best of five series to determine the $1 million champion beginning today at 1 pm local time in Germany. The second place team will take home $250,000. Watch the games live at Dota2.com.

Take advantage of a special pre-purchase promotion for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. In addition to the 10% discount, all Steam Pre-Purchasers now receive eight all-new, Deus Ex-themed items for Team Fortress 2!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is also now available for pre-load so you'll be ready to play when it releases!

In anticipation of The International, the inaugural Dota 2 Championships at Gamescom from August 17-21, Valve has released the first Dota 2 trailer today. Experience the world and heroes of Dota 2 through the narrative of its colorful shopkeeper. View the trailer here

The International features the 16 best Dota teams in the world competing in the Dota 2 Championships through a group stage, double elimination playoff format over the course of Cologne's five-day trade show.

The tournament will be broadcast in four languages (Chinese, German, Russian, and English) free of charge. The winning team will receive $1 million. In addition to the cash prizes awarded by Valve, NVidia is providing all the hardware for the event.

Dota 2 will be available for the PC and Mac later this year. For more information on Valve and its games, please visit http://www.dota2.com/

In celebration of the mega gaming event QUAKECON, save big on different games from id Software and Bethesda each day, now through August 8th 10am PDT.

Today only, save 65% on all DOOM & QUAKE titles when you buy the DOOM & QUAKE Complete Pack, which now includes the newly available Quake 4! If you just want a few of these classics to fill out your collection, they are also available for 50% off individually (except Quake 4). This offer ends on Friday at 10am PDT.

Or, pick up the massive QUAKECON Pack, a collection of all released id and Bethesda titles at over 75% off!. Save an additional 20% off the QUAKECON Pack by pre-purchasing either RAGE or Skyrim (oh yeah, Skyrim is now available for pre-purchase!). Or Save over 40% off the Pack by pre-purchasing both of them!

Plus, BRINK is 50% off and available to play for FREE this weekend, starting now through Sunday at 1pm PDT.

Finally, get unique in-game items in Team Fortress 2! Get "The Original" Quake rocket launcher when you buy Quake 4 or get the RAGE Wingstick when you pre-purchase RAGE.

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more great deals and special offers.

VALVE ANNOUNCES "THE INTERNATIONAL"
Dota 2 Championships: First Public Showing at Gamescom

August 1, 2011 — Valve today announced The International. This tournament will be the first time Dota 2 is shown in public, and will take place August 17th -21st at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

The International features the 16 best Dota teams in the world competing in the Dota 2 Championships through a group stage, double elimination playoff format over the course of Cologne's five-day trade show.

The tournament will be broadcast in four languages (Chinese, German, Russian, and English) free of charge. The winning team will receive $1 million.

“The International is the first public Dota 2 event and will give the tens of millions of gamers playing Dota around the world their first look at the new game,” said Gabe Newell, president and founder of Valve. “I have had the good fortune to watch the competitors as they prepare for the tournament, and the level of play is extraordinary.”

In addition to the cash prizes awarded by Valve, NVidia is providing all the hardware for the event.

Dota 2 will be available for the PC and Mac later this year. For more information on Valve and its games, please visit http://www.dota2.com/

Today's Deal: Save 66% off Left 4 Dead 2!

Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are!

This weekend is the last chance to pre-purchase Portal 2. Get your copy now, save 10% and be ready to play the moment it is released.

Help release Portal 2 early: From now until release, play any or all of games in The Potato Sack to expedite the launch of Portal 2. Your efforts will be tracked on the official GLaDOS@home page.

Each game in The Potato Sack has received a massive Portal-themed update, making a collection of 13 hit indie games even better. So why not get a taste of Portal 2 now while you help launch it?

Pre-load Portal 2 and be ready to play when it releases.