Half-Life 2 just got a special 20th anniversary update with a new documentary, commentary, and more

Half-Life 2 is formally 20 years previous this weekend, and to mark the event Valve has launched a particular anniversary replace, bundling in a brand-new documentary, commentary, the beforehand separate Episodes 1 & 2, and extra. Oh, and the sport’s free to maintain over the subsequent few days.

Valve’s seminal shooter sequel, which charts the persevering with adventures of bespectacled scientist Gordon Freeman and his deeply erotic love affair with a prising instrument, launched into the world on sixteenth November, 2004. It was instantly heralded as a basic of the style, and Valve has completed every thing in its energy to not launch a numbered sequel since.

However now, 20 years on, Valve is in a celebratory temper, and – a lot because it did when the unique Half-Life reached the large two-five final 12 months – it is launched a particular anniversary replace introducing bonus materials, beforehand separate bits of DLC, and a complete vary of tweaks.

There may be, for starters, a brand new documentary created by Secret Tape. “It is about much more than simply the making of a sport,” explains Valve in its announcement. “Operating out of cash. Getting hacked, and an early model being leaked on-line. Being sued by our writer. Attempting to construct Steam. It is all in there!” It is also unearthed various previous shows from throughout Half-Life 2’s growth, which it is shoved on its anniversary web site.

Moreover, Valve has recorded a brand-new Half-Life 2 commentary for its newest replace, and it is also completely bundled Half-Life 2: Episode One, Episode Two, and Misplaced Coast – all beforehand out there individually – along with the bottom sport. That is alongside the addition of built-in Steam Workshop assist, that means everybody can browse and obtain player-created content material from immediately inside the sport.

However that is nonetheless not the tip of it. Valve says each map has been regarded over by its stage designers to “repair longstanding bugs, restore content material and options misplaced to time, and enhance the standard of some issues like lightmap decision and fog”. It is also added new graphics settings that means gamers can now select between the unique launch day blood and fireplace results or these launched in Half-Life 2’s later episodes; it is up to date gamepad controls and intention help, and it is also potential to play with solely the best element fashions in Excessive High quality mode. Full patch notes, in case you’re curious, could be present in Valve’s announcement.

All of the above is now out there as a part of Half-Life 2’s free twentieth anniversary replace on Steam. And in case you do not already personal a duplicate of Half-Life 2, it is free to obtain and carry on Valve’s platform, supplied you decide it up earlier than Monday, 18th November at 6pm within the UK.