Archives

If you’re interested in spending some quality time with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive before it’s released later this year then you may want to fill out this survey (opens Steam). Valve will be sending out beta keys to select survey participants over the coming months, meaning ‘if you don’t fill it out, you won’t be in …

Valve has confirmed that Steam now supports free-to-play games, starting with the arrival of five totally free titles, released today. The launch titles are Spiral Knights, Forsaken Worlds, Champions Online: Free for All, Global Agenda: Free Agent, and Alliance of Valliant Arms (AVA). Get on them quickly and you could be in for free DLC …

Valve maestro Gabe Newell has said the company is far more interested in developing what it can do with payment services than expanding its technology, and online “jerks” should have to pay more than community evangelists. Speaking to Develop, Newell was asked whether the company will seek to push its Source engine more aggressively now …

Valve have announced that a PC patch is available for Portal 2, and you can pick it up on Steam via the usual auto updates. The new PC patch fixes a bunch of crashing issues and glitches that got players stuck at certain points in the game. This follows confirmation over the weekend of details …

The introduction of Steam to PlayStation 3 has ensured both Sony’s console and the PC are “one big happy family,” Valve programmer Jeep Barnett (fantastic name) has told PSM3. Speaking in an interview published in the mag’s latest issue – which is on shelves next week – Barnett said cross-platform play between the platforms (see …

Valve’s Chet Faliszek has said Portal 2 is “absolutely the best” single-player campaign Valve has ever produced. Speaking with TGL at a recent Portal 2 press event, Faliszek said, “In terms of single-player experience, [Portal 2 is] absolutely the best” of Valve’s games. Half-Life 2, which often tops ‘Best PC Games ever’ lists never even …

Valve will never commit to a Half-Life movie unless it can base it on an “interesting idea” – but it hasn’t ruled the possibility out. The series’ filmic qualities have made the idea of a feature adaptation a fan favourite discussion point – but other than some impressive amateur efforts, nothing official has ever been …

Valve boss Gabe Newell has paid tribute to the role John Carmack and id Software played in getting the Left 4 Dead firm off the ground. Newell secured a licence to the Quake Engine in late 1996, through his friend at id, Michael Abrash – and built Half-Life 1 on the technology. But as he …

Valve’s shown off some new Portal 2 gameplay at PAX East in Boston, USA, as well as announcing a new character, Cave Johnson. Johnson, who’s voiced by JK Simmons of Spider-Man fame, is the founder of Aperture Science and like Glados will guide you through the battered test chambers of Portal 2. As well as …

Valve’s announced it’s to bring TV support to Steam via “big picture” mode. The feature, which is set to be shown off at GDC this week, will offer controller support and “navigation designed for television interaction”, it says. “Big picture mode will enable gamers to enjoy Steam and their library of Steam games on more …

Valve has released a few details on what the next downloadable content package for Left 4 Dead 2 will contain and when we can expect to see it. The DLC, which has not yet been given an official name, will feature a new community campaign called ‘Cold Stream’ and is created by Matthew Lourdelet, who …

Valve has revealed that lessons learnt during the creation of zombie shooter Left 4 Dead have heavily influenced the making of Portal 2. Speaking in an extensive preview in the latest edition of Edge (E225), the studio discusses how the unlikely inspiration has bled into both the campaign and co-op elements of its first person …

It looks like the definitive version of Portal 2 on console WILL be the PlayStation 3 edition, after Valve’s announced a roster of connectivity features between PS3 and PC. First up, the PlayStation 3 version of Portal 2 will ship with cross platform play, Valve’s announced, allowing PS3 users to play with PC and Mac …

Microsoft’s Kinect does away with the traditional controller but Half Life and Portal developer Valve thinks we can go one better… by controlling games with just our eyes. That’s right, if we’re going to get rid of pads, why not get rid of our arms as well? In fact, Valve envisages a future where we …

Valve has defended its unpredictable roster of releases – claiming that its line-up is, in fact, not quite as random as it often seems. The studio has become notorious in recent years for surprising fans with irregular releases following Half-Life 2′s arrival in 2004. Since then, the firm has unleashed The Orange Box for 360, …