14 DAY TRIAL // Valve announced its plans to release the first downloadable content piece for Left 4 Dead. Their multiplayer cooperative zombie shooter is set to be updated sometime during spring with a new game mode, which is called Survival, and with two new more complete campaigns that can be played in the Versus Mode. There's no exact date for the launch but the guys at Valve are renowned for only releasing content when it's good and ready. The L4D Survival Pack will be delivered via Steam.
Valve also plans to release to retail a so-called Critic's Choice Edition of Left 4 Dead near the same time, incorporating all the content offered in the original game and everything that will be delivered via DLC or patch up to that point. By getting it, players will be sure to have access to all the game has to offer.
There's also good news for those who got Left 4 Dead on the PC. They are getting a Source Software Development Kit, or SSDK, which will allow modders to get their hands dirty and create extra campaigns for the game, which will then be accessible via the matchmaking system that the title uses so that all those who install them can play them co op at any time without any additional hassle. Unfortunately, those playing Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360 will not be able to benefit from any modded content.
Gabe Newell, who is one of the co-founders and the president of Valve, stated that “Since Half-Life launched in 1998, Valve has made continuous efforts to expand the offering of its products beyond what's included on the day of launch. With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we've learned that we're no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services. With Left 4 Dead we're extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences.”
Valve seems to be pretty good at offering piecemeal additions to its multiplayer games and both Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress 2 will probably be getting updates well into 2010.