25th anniversary update brings a load of new features and content to FPS classic Half-Life.
I remember when I first heard about Half-Life. It had been out for a few months, and my then-girlfriend was telling me all about the multiplayer modes, which she’d been playing with (it turned out) her next boyfriend.
It’s fair to say I took an instant dislike to Half-Life, something I failed to shake off until about 5 years later, not long before Half-Life 2 materialised. (Accuracy of dates may be fuzzy.)
After a few minutes of play, I knew that Half-Life was special. I don’t think I played Duke Nukem 3D again until the Nintendo Switch release; I’d abandoned DOOM. The only other FPS games on my radar back then were Medal of Honour and Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
Naturally, Half-Life, and the mysteries within, took over.
It is a hugely significant game, which is why it is extremely reassuring to see Valve taking its 25th anniversary seriously. As reported, a new update was issued last week, which was “unlocked” on the game’s anniversary (November 17th). This added various features to the game:
- Full Steam Deck support
- New multiplayer maps
- New player models
- Original Half-Life demo, Uplink
- Steam Networking and Rich Presence support
- Updated menu design
- Multiplayer spawn randomness
- Improved physics for throwing grenades
- New texture filtering setting
- 1 hour documentary film celebrating Half-Life
You can watch the film right here:
In addition, Half-Life was made free to own forever during the weekend celebrations, although this offer has now closed. Even so, the game costs about £7 and is currently in the Steam sale for 71p, so it’s worth grabbing if, by some weird chance, you’ve never played Half-Life.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
