<center><img src='http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/10451/peng.jpg?t=1366749389'></center>
The L4D2 Beta is mutating. Not content to just be the testing ground for the new <a href='http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=9915'>Extended Mutation System</a>, we will be adding Linux to the Beta. And not content with the number of testers in the Beta, we will also be opening up the Beta to all L4D2 owners.

Huh, what?

The L4D2 Beta build is a separate download from the main game. This is where we are testing new features to the game – currently we are testing <a href='http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=9915'>EMS</a>. Starting next week, we will be testing Linux there as well.

This code churns more frequently than the main game depot, so if you are bandwidth constrained, you might want to wait for the changes to move to the main game.

If you are playing the Beta game, you can only connect to other players in the Beta and to Beta servers.

Next week it will appear in your library alongside the main L4D2 game.

You do not need to enter a code to gain access and it is totally voluntary to download and participate in the Beta.

For modders currently in the Beta, now would be a good time to update your current work and get ready for a whole bunch of new testers.

For players, not only is the Linux build new, but the Window and Mac versions are also updated, so we need plenty of non-Linux testing as well.

When the Beta expands next week, we will post on how you can help give feedback and participate in the Beta.

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The L4D2 Beta is mutating. Not content to just be the testing ground for the new Extended Mutation System, we will be adding Linux to the Beta. And not content with the number of testers in the Beta, we will also be opening up the Beta to all L4D2 owners.

Huh, what?

The L4D2 Beta build is a separate download from the main game. This is where we are testing new features to the game – currently we are testing EMS. Starting next week, we will be testing Linux there as well.

This code churns more frequently than the main game depot, so if you are bandwidth constrained, you might want to wait for the changes to move to the main game.

If you are playing the Beta game, you can only connect to other players in the Beta and to Beta servers.

Next week it will appear in your library alongside the main L4D2 game.

You do not need to enter a code to gain access and it is totally voluntary to download and participate in the Beta.

For modders currently in the Beta, now would be a good time to update your current work and get ready for a whole bunch of new testers.

For players, not only is the Linux build new, but the Window and Mac versions are also updated, so we need plenty of non-Linux testing as well.

When the Beta expands next week, we will post on how you can help give feedback and participate in the Beta.

<img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/10332/lepotitsa_blog.jpg?t=1365026193">
To celebrate the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/221040/">release of Left 4 Dead 2 content in RE6 today</a>, we are releasing two more RE6 special reskins for L4D2. <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=136540931">Ogroman</a> is a skin for the Charger and <A href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=136541592">Lepotitsa</a> (pictured) is a replacement for the Boomer. These two join <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=136304810">Napad</a>, the Tank replacement in our <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=136792679">Official Resident Evil 6 Collection</a>.

There are still a few more weeks to submit your <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=550&requiredtags[]=Resident+Evil+6">character skins</a> before we “review” them and see which ones we like the best. Who knows what the best ones might get besides being added to the official collection...

While you are busy at work on those, take a few minutes to vote for your favorite campaign. We will be featuring a new community campaign on our servers in a few weeks.

To celebrate the release of Left 4 Dead 2 content in RE6 today, we are releasing two more RE6 special reskins for L4D2. Ogroman is a skin for the Charger and Lepotitsa (pictured) is a replacement for the Boomer. These two join Napad, the Tank replacement in our Official Resident Evil 6 Collection.

There are still a few more weeks to submit your =Resident+Evil+6]character skins before we “review” them and see which ones we like the best. Who knows what the best ones might get besides being added to the official collection...

While you are busy at work on those, take a few minutes to vote for your favorite campaign. We will be featuring a new community campaign on our servers in a few weeks.

<img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/10323/bill.jpg?t=1364933126">
We have released the first of the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/221040/">Resident Evil 6</a> replacement creatures into the <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=550">L4D2 workshop</a>. You can have Napad replace the current Tank skin by simply going to its <A href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=136304810">Workshop page</a> and clicking subscribe. Why subscribe instead of download? Because if we make an update to the skin, everyone instantly gets the new updated version. By subscribing, you will always have the latest version.

If you check the <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=550&requiredtags[]=Resident+Evil+6">Resident Evil 6 tab</a> on the Workshop, you can see a few of the very first of the RE6 entries. Is anyone surprised <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/id/splinks">Splinks</a> was already working on some? The best entries will be included in a special Resident Evil 6 collection and might even get a few goodies thrown their way.

Past that, testing is continuing on both the Left 4 Dead 2 version of Linux and the Beta version of L4D2 which includes our new Extended Mutation System. Both are testing well and the team is embracing 8 hour days of play testing.

The artwork used for this blog post was created by <A href="http://steamcommunity.com/id/agentgraven">AgentGraven</a>. You can check it and other community created art in the <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/app/550/images/">Artwork tab</a>.

We have released the first of the Resident Evil 6 replacement creatures into the L4D2 workshop. You can have Napad replace the current Tank skin by simply going to its Workshop page and clicking subscribe. Why subscribe instead of download? Because if we make an update to the skin, everyone instantly gets the new updated version. By subscribing, you will always have the latest version.

If you check the =Resident+Evil+6]Resident Evil 6 tab on the Workshop, you can see a few of the very first of the RE6 entries. Is anyone surprised Splinks was already working on some? The best entries will be included in a special Resident Evil 6 collection and might even get a few goodies thrown their way.

Past that, testing is continuing on both the Left 4 Dead 2 version of Linux and the Beta version of L4D2 which includes our new Extended Mutation System. Both are testing well and the team is embracing 8 hour days of play testing.

The artwork used for this blog post was created by AgentGraven. You can check it and other community created art in the Artwork tab.

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This trailer shows the RE6 mode The Mercenaries: No Mercy, which pits Coach, Ellis, Nick and Rochelle against Resident Evil enemies, plus brings in the Witch and Mini-Tank from L4D2. This mode and the L4D2 characters and monsters are included for free in the PC version of <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/221040/">Resident Evil 6</a>.

When you are done watching the video, make sure to get to work on your Resident Evil 6 character for the <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=550">L4D2 workshop</a> or if modeling isn’t your thing – sit back and wait for the Resident Evil characters and creatures to invade L4D2 next month.

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This trailer shows the RE6 mode The Mercenaries: No Mercy, which pits Coach, Ellis, Nick and Rochelle against Resident Evil enemies, plus brings in the Witch and Mini-Tank from L4D2. This mode and the L4D2 characters and monsters are included for free in the PC version of Resident Evil 6.

When you are done watching the video, make sure to get to work on your Resident Evil 6 character for the L4D2 workshop or if modeling isn’t your thing – sit back and wait for the Resident Evil characters and creatures to invade L4D2 next month.

<center><img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/10182/cats.jpg?t=1363741096"></center>
Have you added any <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=550">Workshop</a> items to your game? If not, time to do it. The creative modders of L4D2 continue to add new content every day. The <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=130407073">Cat mod</a> pictured above changes all the common infected into cats. Do you shoot them or do you hug them? A little tip, hugging will not end well and shooting them is really, really hard. To download and keep your cats and other mods up to date, just click the subscribe button on the item page. Next time you start the game you will see the game automatically downloading the custom content.

Right now that content is set to not play on Valve dedicated servers – but that is about to change. We are working to allow the custom content to be usable in non-competitive modes like Campaign and Survival. For now you can see it by playing on third party servers or local games.

We have a few more things in the works.

We are hard at work on the Linux release. While we don’t have a solid ETA yet, we are internally testing on Linux, MAC, and PC. Right now, it is looking pretty good. We will have more news as we get closer to release.

In Left 4 Dead Beta our new scripted mode – EMS (Extended Mutation System) continues its testing with more mods and features being added. When this is released, we will also be updating some match making features to let you more easily find games and lobbies for your favorite Mutations.

Lastly, this Friday we will have a few special little teases for the L4D2/RE6 mashup. Until then, we saw this <a href="http://mattstarbuck.blogspot.com/2012/08/cat-chucker.html">great piece of concept art</a> posted over on Reddit. I think combining this with <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/id/splinks/myworkshopfiles/?appid=550">Splink’s</a> <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=130407073">Cat mod</a> would be perfect. It just leaves us with one question, is that a new special or a new survivor?

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Have you added any Workshop items to your game? If not, time to do it. The creative modders of L4D2 continue to add new content every day. The Cat mod pictured above changes all the common infected into cats. Do you shoot them or do you hug them? A little tip, hugging will not end well and shooting them is really, really hard. To download and keep your cats and other mods up to date, just click the subscribe button on the item page. Next time you start the game you will see the game automatically downloading the custom content.

Right now that content is set to not play on Valve dedicated servers – but that is about to change. We are working to allow the custom content to be usable in non-competitive modes like Campaign and Survival. For now you can see it by playing on third party servers or local games.

We have a few more things in the works.

We are hard at work on the Linux release. While we don’t have a solid ETA yet, we are internally testing on Linux, MAC, and PC. Right now, it is looking pretty good. We will have more news as we get closer to release.

In Left 4 Dead Beta our new scripted mode – EMS (Extended Mutation System) continues its testing with more mods and features being added. When this is released, we will also be updating some match making features to let you more easily find games and lobbies for your favorite Mutations.

Lastly, this Friday we will have a few special little teases for the L4D2/RE6 mashup. Until then, we saw this great piece of concept art posted over on Reddit. I think combining this with Splink’s Cat mod would be perfect. It just leaves us with one question, is that a new special or a new survivor?