Feb 11, 2013
The Extended Mutation System
Left 4 Dead
Today we are releasing an Extended Mutation System for the L4D2 Beta program. Modders from around the world will help us test the expanded tools before we roll them into the main game and the workshop.
Jan 23, 2013
They re Changing!
Left 4 Dead
Thanks to the Workshop, Left 4 Dead 2 continues to change.

Mod authors continue to add content to the Workshop, so keep coming back and checking to see what s new. You can download the Workshop items automatically by clicking subscribe. This will also keep that item automatically up to date!
Jan 21, 2013
Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop
Left 4 Dead

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam WorkshopValve just recently moved Steam Workshop out of beta, and we're already seeing a ton of great mods ready for your clicking.


We've had access to mods before, that's nothing new. But Valve's Steam Workshop completely streamlines the process of adding them in, making the ability to have smarter AI, new weapons and newly skinned enemies an easier process than ever before. And databased, too!


So what's out there now, roughly four days after its official release? Here are a few that caught my eye.


Beautiful, changing skies

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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A Helm's Deep map

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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An Aperture space station map

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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Playing as friggin' velociraptors

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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A Crash Bandicoot map

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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Warrior Bug enemies

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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A super-sexy Coach in formal wear

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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Team Fortress 2's Scout as a Hunter

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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The Gabe Newell of Boomers

Here Are A Bunch Of Wonderful Left 4 Dead 2 Mods Courtesy Of Steam Workshop


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There are a ton of other maps, skins for the four playable characters, skins for enemies, heck, skins for the defibrillator and ammo packs. There are weapons, from melee and assault rifles to machine guns and grenades. There are menu tweaks and UI changes. New soundtracks and sound effects. Just a metric crapton of things you probably don't need but, hey, you can download now.
Jan 18, 2013
Left 4 Dead 2 gets Steam Workshop support
Left 4 Dead
62 Left 4 Dead 2


Valve have posted a patch for Left 4 Dead 2 this morning. Along with the regular old incomprehensible patch notes, ("Cleaned up DLC add-on file dependencies and simplified talker file structure." Huh?) they've finally enabled Steam Workshop support, creating an easy system for browsing and installing new weapons, campaigns, items and - er - clothing. I guess the Venn diagram of fashion enthusiasts and mod creators does have some crossover.

As it's only been live for a few hours, L4D2's Workshop listing is still a bit barren. It shouldn't take long for some top content to appear, though - Left 4 Dead 2 already has a healthy modding community, so, with any luck, some of the best will be uploaded in the coming days.

Adding mods to the game was already a relatively simple process, but of course the Workshop streamlines it down further and, perhaps more importantly, will automatically each mod with any patch the creator uploads.

Hopefully we'll soon see some of the great community created campaigns start to appear, like these brilliant Back 2 School maps.

Jan 17, 2013
The Workshop is Live!
Left 4 Dead
Today we are moving the Left 4 Dead 2 Workshop out of beta! So right now with a click of a button, you can add campaigns, items, clothing, weapons and more.

Content creators have been hard at work creating content for L4D2 but they have just gotten access to the new Workshop, so give them some time to upload their work. But with over 1,000 community campaigns and thousands more items and skins already created for the game, we should see many of these pop up in the Left 4 Dead 2 Workshop in the coming days and weeks (Note: Please don t upload other people s work. If a campaign you like isn t in the Workshop, please nicely ask the creator to post it). You can start browsing the Workshop now.

To help other players find the coolest content, make sure to rate and discuss the submissions. We will be featuring submissions on l4d.com

Jan 17, 2013
Valve launches Steam Guides: browse and create user-made walkthroughs and tips
Half-Life 2
Dota 2 Steam Guide overlay


Someday, Valve will eventually run out of wonderful features to pack into its mega-gaming-hub Steam. Let's hope it's a long way off, because we'll all be busy poring over the user-written manuals, walkthroughs, and tips for our various games in the newly launched Steam Guides section of Steam's Community area.

Anyone can create and submit a guide for the game of their choice by clicking the new Guide tab on a game's Community Hub page. You can pretty up your words with images and embedded YouTube videos as well, and the guides also appear upon Steam's overlay whenever you're running a program. Neat. I can finally whip up my "How to avoid tigers" guide I've been planning for Far Cry 3 quickly and easily.

Head over to the Steam Guides page to take a look at the over 1,000 guides already created.
Jan 17, 2013
Valve Considers Resubmitting Left 4 Dead 2 for Australian Classification
Left 4 Dead

Valve Considers Resubmitting Left 4 Dead 2 for Australian ClassificationYou may remember that, nearly four years ago, Australia's classification board refused to classify Left 4 Dead 2, effectively banning it from sale in the country. At the time, Australia's ratings system for video games topped out at MA15+, which basically means suitable for teenagers. Valve released a highly sanitized version of the game just for Australia, disappointing many and calling attention to the country's insufficient ratings policies.


Well, in the three-plus years since, Australia has gotten its act together. On Jan. 1, a new R18+ rating went into effect (Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge was the first to claim it.) Fans down under are wondering if Valve is keen to revisit the subject with a fully unedited Left 4 Dead 2. Writing on Valve's official forums, Chet Faliszek says yes.


"We have been exploring the options here and what we can legally do," he said.
"We will have more information on this when we understand the issues fully and how we are moving forward."


The game was submitted and refused, the decision was appealed, and the appeal was denied. It sounds like Valve isn't yet certain if Left 4 Dead 2 is eligible for a re-review under a new rating, or if an old decision is final no matter what.


Still, any expense of resubmitting Left 4 Dead 2 for classification "doesn't worry us," he added. "This is something we want to do."


Valve investigating R18+ options for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia [GameSpot]


Jan 10, 2013
Vireio Perception drivers for Oculus Rift add support for Skyrim, Mirror’s Edge, others
Half-Life 2
Vireio Perception Oculus Rift drivers


Contrary to popular belief, the anticipated Oculus Rift virtual reality headset doesn't run on pixie dust and elf tears. Like all hardware, it needs software drivers. And while its 20-year-old creator, Palmer Luckey, focuses on manufacturing more developer kits to meet the exceedingly high demand, enthusiastic 3D fans are already planning homebrewed custom drivers. One such project is CyberReality's Vireio Perception which extends Rift 3D support to first-person greats such as Portal 2, Skyrim, Mirror's Edge, and Left 4 Dead.

As CyberReality describes it, Vireio (or Virtual Reality Input Output, but we like how the shorthand name sounds like an enemy boss) can "pre-warp the image to match the Oculus Rift optics, handle custom aspect-ratios (needed for the Rift's strange 8:10 screen), and utilize full 3D head-tracking." As we describe it: Whoa.

The drivers work with nine games so far: Left 4 Dead, Half-Life 2, Portal 2, Skyrim, Mirror's Edge, AaAaAA!!!, Unreal Tournament 3, Dear Esther, and DiRT 2. CyberReality plans to add additional games in the future after spending more time with the kit. If all goes well, the possibilities are enormous: Think of revisiting classics such as Thief or Deus Ex with full head-tracking vision. Oh, yes, this is exciting.

Thanks, PCGamesN.
Jan 4, 2013
The Donkey Kong Rap, As Told Through Left 4 Dead Zombies
Left 4 Dead

Some people might tell you that Donkey Kong 64 is an awful game. According to 10 year old me (my age the last time I played that game), they'd be wrong. But, hopefully everyone can agree that the Donkey Kong rap is fantastic?


Now, take that catchy tune, and add the Left 4 Dead zombies. What do you get? This amazing thing by YouTube user EdbotnikThe's.


Keep an eye on the witch.


L4DK Rap [EdbotnikThe's]


Dec 5, 2012
Left 4 Dead Update
Left 4 Dead - Valve
- Fixed a potential crash in the client shadow manager
- Fixed the game and tools not launching on machines with 16+ CPUs.
- Enable controller navigation of menus to support Big Picture mode.
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