Half-Life stands as a game that has left an enduring mark in gaming history. It propelled Valve on a path that led to the creation of Steam, Steam Deck, Counter-Strike, and numerous other titles. In a fitting tribute, the company commemorates the 25th anniversary of Half-Life by offering the game for free and introducing a substantial update.
Valve Commemorates 25th Anniversary by Making Half-Life Free
As part of the celebration, Valve made the game available for free to all. If you haven’t bought the original Half-Life, you can visit Steam and claim it for yourself. This offer stands until November 20th, 2023. If you have a Steam account, be sure to claim the title and experience the iconic Resonance Cascade event within the game.
True to their style, Valve exceeded expectations by releasing a complimentary update. This new update, aptly titled “The 25th Anniversary Update,” commemorates the game’s illustrious history. Within this update, Valve has included a fresh mini-campaign named Uplink.
Initially, this was exclusively released on-disc for magazines and hardware manufacturers during the 90s. Created by the team post the game’s gold status, Valve asserts that for numerous individuals, this served as their inaugural encounter with the game. Until this update, this mini-campaign had never seen an official launch. It represents a small segment within the larger journey of Gordon Freeman.
Apart from Uplink, the update introduces four fresh multiplayer maps crafted by Valve-level designers. These maps – Contamination, Pool Party, Disposal, and Rocket Frenzy, offer unique gameplay experiences. Remarkably, these constitute the game’s initial set of new maps in more than a decade.
The expansion doesn’t stop there, Valve also included three maps from the Further Data disc: Double Cross, Rust Mill, and Xen DM. This addition sums up to a total of seven new maps for players to explore. Additionally, four new multiplayer skins have been introduced: Incredible Skeleton, Too Much Coffee Man, Space Biker, and Proto-Barney.
Moreover, the update encompasses controller and networking support, enhanced graphic settings such as widescreen FOV and texture smoothing toggles, lighting enhancements, and software rendering specifically for Linux. Additionally, the entire user interface underwent an overhaul to adapt to modern monitors, scaling seamlessly to higher resolutions. Notably, the classic Valve start-up and main menu for Half-Life have been reinstated.
Additionally, in conjunction with the release of the new Steam Deck OLED, the game has received verification for compatibility on Steam Deck. I tested the title today, and it performs wonderfully on my original 64GB system.
The latest update also addresses numerous bugs in the game. Given that the original Half-Life had its fair share of both amusing and bothersome bugs, Valve’s engineers and developers dedicated themselves to rectifying nearly every issue. The comprehensive list of alterations is extensive, prompting us to recommend visiting their new 25th-anniversary website for a detailed rundown of the changes.
Valve Unveils Documentary in Honor of Game’s Celebration
In addition to the remarkable game update and the free offering of the title, Valve also debuted a 25th-anniversary documentary. This one-hour-long video reunites most of the original game’s developers, delving into discussions and insights about the development journey of Half-Life.
The documentary features prominent figures like Gabe Newell, Mike Harrington, and several others recounting their memories of the game. Secret Tape, renowned for crafting video-game documentaries, handled the filming. Danny O’Dwyer, recognized for his NoClip documentaries and as the founder of Secret Tape, directed the entire project. Notably, O’Dwyer had previously created a documentary on Half-Life for NoClip.
It’s uncommon to witness developers invest such significant effort into their legacy titles, but Valve has a reputation for deeply honoring and cherishing their past achievements. While celebrating the 25th anniversary could have been accomplished simply by offering the game for free, the extensive addition of content demonstrates an impressive dedication that goes above and beyond expectations.
While I don’t usually delve into assumptions or conspiracy theories, considering the recent launch of Steam Deck OLED and the celebration of Half-Life’s 25th Anniversary, one might hope for news about the elusive third game. However, given Valve’s historical aversion to the number three, this remains nothing more than wishful thinking on my part.
Are you looking forward to the new update? Do you intend to dive into the game? Have you played it before? Are you thinking about jumping back in for some Deathmatch action? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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