Valve provides mysterious Half-Life 2 replace proper earlier than twentieth anniversary

Half-Life 2 is about to show 20 years outdated. That’s 20 years, over 7,000 days, and numerous FPS video games emulating Valve’s work. We’re nonetheless ready on Half-Life 3, and whereas latest rumors level to the sequel being as actual because it ever has been, it seems like one thing massive could also be in retailer for Gordon Freeman’s second journey. A brand new replace bears a placing resemblance to at least one Valve dropped for the unique Half-Life proper earlier than that recreation’s big free replace final 12 months, so HL2 is likely to be getting the same overhaul.

Earlier than we dive into what all of this might imply for Half-Life 2’s twentieth anniversary, we have to acknowledge that it might be nothing. Saturday November 16 2024 might come and go along with not even a phrase from Valve, but when we begin placing the proof collectively on a corkboard with pink string, the case takes form.

So what are we ? On Saturday August 17 Valve added a brand new department to HL2 on Steam known as ‘take a look at.’ Alone it’s pretty innocuous, with the SteamDB web page updating its consumer tags and making different backend adjustments all through 2024. The enduring FPS recreation is sort of 20 years outdated, however by itself, that’s no purpose to imagine one thing massive. LambdaGeneration consumer ‘Purple,’ who noticed the replace, says as a lot.

Right here’s the place issues get attention-grabbing although. Earlier than the unique Half-Life’s twenty fifth anniversary final 12 months, Valve uploaded a very comparable replace for that recreation. This patch additionally added a ‘take a look at’ construct, which was later revealed to be a colossal patch crammed to the brim with content material.

Valve added the 1999 Uplink demo to Half-Life, 4 new multiplayer maps, widescreen, lighting fixes, and even up to date the shooter to verified standing on Steam Deck. It was big, and Half-Life 2’s comparable backend patch, alongside the timing of its twentieth anniversary, would possibly signify that one thing is within the works.

Once more, don’t get too excited although. If Valve is planning one thing for Half-Life 2’s birthday it’s going to be saved secret, and we’d not even hear about it till the large day itself. No matter occurs, an enormous patch just like the Half-Life anniversary replace from final 12 months will go down a deal with, particularly contemplating what the White Sands venture leak might imply for the way forward for the sequence.

Half-Life 2 remastered did make an look on the Steam backend final 12 months, so this new take a look at department could also be associated. In any case, I’d stay cautiously optimistic.

If you wish to revisit extra classics we’ve put collectively all of the greatest PC video games you’ll be able to play in 2024, alongside some really unbelievable outdated video games to provide you a dose of videogame historical past.

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