E3: Valve explains L4D2 exclusivity

By Tom Bramwell Published 4 June, 2009

And won't stop supporting the first one.

Valve has said that Left 4 Dead 2's Xbox 360 console exclusivity has more to do with the developer's background than anything else.

"We don't have a ton of experience internally building products for other console platforms," Valve's Erik Johnson told Eurogamer in the interview bit of our first hands-on with the game.

"Left 4 Dead 1 was PC and Xbox, so it made a lot of sense to go for Xbox this time," he added.

Speaking of which, the developer's decision to return to Left 4 Dead so soon after release raises questions about its usual, laudable long-term support for its games - questions we asked, obviously.

"We're going to keep building stuff for Left 4 Dead 1," said Johnson. "We'll support both. We've always felt that it makes good business sense to keep customers happy."

"We do have risks in that we don't want to split the two camps, we don't want a Left 4 Dead 1 group and a Left 4 Dead 2 group, that's a problem that we need to figure out."

Check out our Left 4 Dead 2 hands-on and interview for more. The game's out for PC and Xbox 360 on 17th November.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (40) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Quint2020 #1 3 years ago

    Why even develop a new one so soon? All the additions they're going to add to this one could have been done with DLC, seems pointless to me.
    Edited by Quint2020 at 04/06/09 @ 09:23

  • dsmx #2 3 years ago

    Reason probably is that microsoft said here's a bag of money and if you leave l4d2 in it's place then all is good.

  • miiiguel #3 3 years ago

    Slightly off-topic: where MS is getting all the "bags of money" and "cheques" ? I mean, we hear "they're loosing market share"; "they're going downhill"; "Apple is bigger"; and then we hear all about bags of money; and Steven Spielberg on stage. It doesn't make much. Sense.

  • Triggerhappytel #4 3 years ago

    @Raajaa - no it didn't. It had a few glitches and frame rate issues, but considering EA did a quick internal port, I think they did a very good job. From my experience of Portal, HL2, Ep 1 and TF2 in the package, none of them are considerably flawed.

    It does seem awfully soon for L4D2, but I agree with dsmx that MS probably fired their money cannon at Valve to encourage them to make a sequel. Still seems like nothing that couldn't have been done for decent-priced DLC though.

  • lambtron #5 3 years ago

    I think in this case it's nothing to do with money and everything to do with the fact that Gabe Newell hates the PS3.

  • Widge #6 3 years ago

    Well, having watched a Half Life 2 documentary, the "ah!" moment came when (it must have been Gabe) said that they all started off working at Microsoft before starting Valve with the assistance of Microsoft.

    Tin foil hat time to file along with Phil Harrison Ghostbusters scenario!

  • kangarootoo #7 3 years ago

    Apple isn't bigger than MS. Not yet.


    Anyway, if they bring out a new game with new content and lots of people buy it... I'm not sure how that can in any way be rationally described as pointless.

    Yes I guess all the additions could be done via DLC, but that is really just a business decision. I might also question whether DLC is the best approach for what would be a pretty hefty download (given the shitty pricing of MS' tiny HDDs).

    I'm still on a 20Gb drive, and the idea of buying a 120GB for the same amount as I could buy a half terabyte drive for my PS3 is a proper thorn in my side.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 04/06/09 @ 09:39

  • [TR] #8 3 years ago

    "We do have risks in that we don't want to split the two camps, we don't want a Left 4 Dead 1 group and a Left 4 Dead 2 group, that's a problem that we need to figure out."

    Funny. I had it quite well figured out before you announced the second. It goes like this: Don't release a second one just for the sake of releasing it!
    Remember UT2k's plan for "sports like yearly releases"?

  • JahB #9 3 years ago

    Slightly off-topic: where MS is getting all the "bags of money" and "cheques" ? I mean, we hear "they're loosing market share"; "they're going downhill";

    i don't know where you heard that, but - just like sony - MS aren't going downhill. the 360 has the highest attach rate of all consoles (somewhere above 8), they make a shitload of money through live and the failure rate has come drastically with the jasper.

  • #10 3 years ago

    farticusmaximus

    yeah cos L4D really pushes the technical envelope for a FPS... LMFAO

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #11 3 years ago

    starting Valve with the assistance of Microsoft

    I was under the impression that he just used his massive redundancy payment and / or fortune made from selling employee stock. If Gabe Newell was really in Microsoft's pocket, would they be pissing all over Games For Windows Live with Steam, and refusing to join the PC Gaming Alliance, of which MS is part?

  • Xerx3s #12 3 years ago

    "yeah cos L4D really pushes the technical envelope for a FPS... LMFAO"

    No, because the valve games on the ps3 where utter shite.

  • Darren #13 3 years ago

    I've got Left 4 Dead for my PC, it's alright I guess but it's a bit lacking in content and does get a bit dull after a while IMO. I'm not sure I'd want to play the game on a console though, the uber-fast FPS gameplay is far more suited to a keyboard and mouse...

  • DoctorZoidberg #14 3 years ago

    I think this whole "Microsoft threw them loads of money" argument is getting pretty old now. It's about time people accepted that its not a one horse race any more, and some developers and companies simply prefer the xbox.

    I'm no xbox fan boy, but if nothing else, I think its about time people actually said congratulations to microsoft for even pulling level (and above in some cases) in the console market, on only their second try, when sony completley owned the market with the PS2.

    On topic with L4D2. I don't see the problem here. It's been a year or there abouts, and the thought of whole new campaigns etc surely is a good thing?

    As for "this could have been DLC", perhaps it will be too large? Or perhaps they will add new bits of tech etc? Valve really aren't the people to play cash cow, we all know that.

  • Eraysor #15 3 years ago

    I think they need the money to keep development of the 2nd source engine going.

  • kinky_mong #16 3 years ago

    "Why even develop a new one so soon? All the additions they're going to add to this one could have been done with DLC, seems pointless to me."

    Except that the DLC would be massive and because Valve don't like charging for DLC. I'm still gob-smacked that people expect the guys at Valve to spend so much time and effort creating huge amounts of content for no return.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #17 3 years ago

    I think its about time people actually said congratulations to microsoft for even pulling level (and above in some cases) in the console market, on only their second try

    Ah, but Sony owned the market on its first try. And so did Nintendo.

  • Buztafen #18 3 years ago

    EG's article is massively miss informed and doesnt mention half the stuff thats being developed in L4D2.

    Three new special infected.
    5 new campaigns for all gaming modes including survival and versus
    1 new currently secret game mode
    AI director 2 which now dynamically controls weather and level paths as well as infected spawning and item placement.
    Re-designed crescendo events to make camping less attractive. i.e press 1 button to start horde then move further through a level to press another button to stop the horde.
    Gauntlet finales where you must charge your way through a massive horde of infected on say a linear road to get to a helipad etc.

    I really dont understand how people can whinge about it being a full priced release, its got more content than L4D even after its multiple updates...

    ....though £30 is expensive for a game innit....YOU CHEAP CHAVVY BASTARDS!
    Edited by Buztafen at 04/06/09 @ 10:31

  • smoothn00dle #19 3 years ago

    it is just different skins.. easy money easy decision

  • Darren #20 3 years ago

    So someone explain to me why the L4D2 content couldn't have been released as DLC for the existing L4D1 at a lower price-point?

  • CreepinJesus #21 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus: "...Spend that valuable time and money on fresh ideas..."

    A zombie shoot-up is hardly a fresh idea...
    Edited by CreepinJesus at 04/06/09 @ 10:37

  • kangarootoo #22 3 years ago

    @Darren

    The answers are already in this thread.

  • Vistrix #23 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus Its the same engine. Episode 3 was the same engine as Ep 2, but had significant engine changes.

    It doesnt mean it should be released as a brand new full priced game.

  • Buztafen #24 3 years ago

    Vistrix - Episode 3 isn't out yet.....you tool.
    Edited by Buztafen at 04/06/09 @ 10:54

  • kangarootoo #25 3 years ago

    @CreepinJesus

    "A zombie shoot-up is hardly a fresh idea"

    Big fat strawman.

    The comprehensive focus on cooperation is something in L4D that few other games have really nailed in the same way. If you set out to find the unoriginal aspects of a game in order to shoot it down, I'm sure you will find them. That doesn't mean original aspects don't exist - just that you are selectively ignoring them.

  • the_dudefather #26 3 years ago

    I can't wait for 'L4D: road to infection 2011' next year!

  • Buztafen #27 3 years ago

    Personally i cant wait for Tiger Woods 2011, Madden 2011, Generic Tennis Game 2011, Need for Speed 2011, NBA 2011.

    /isnt joking

  • Dezm0nd #28 3 years ago

    People who buy L4D2 should be able to play with L4D players in L4D maps. Problem solved!

  • Les #29 3 years ago

    "I think its about time people actually said congratulations to microsoft for even pulling level (and above in some cases) in the console market, on only their second try"

    They pulled level with Sony but were surpassed by Nintendo and still lose lots and lots of money on xbox. The only reason they can get away with it is because of the billions that they make through Windows and Office.

    "i don't know where you heard that, but - just like sony - MS aren't going downhill."

    They are going downhill in their primary businesses. And Sony isn't exactly performing that well either as a whole company.

  • Yossarian #30 3 years ago

    I think its about time people actually said congratulations to microsoft for even pulling level (and above in some cases) in the console market...
    If you told people, in 2004, that five years from now Microsoft would be demoing FFXIII on stage, running on a Microsoft console, in English, and would later be followed by a Metal Gear announcement... you would have been laughed off EG.

  • kangarootoo #31 3 years ago

    "People who buy L4D2 should be able to play with L4D players in L4D maps. Problem solved!"

    There are some technical issues to overcome, but I agree its the right direction to go in. Export the maps and characters from L4D 1 for use in 2, and even if you can only use the exported data during online play, it solves most of the issues with cross-game compatability and disc swapping, and STILL leaves an incentive for L4D1 players to buy the new version.

  • Buztafen #32 3 years ago

    Dezmond, Valve are apparently looking into including the L4D1 campaigns on the disc for number 2 to eliminate the need to swap discs to play with mates who own the first.

    EDIT: Plus what HE^^^ said :)
    Edited by Buztafen at 04/06/09 @ 11:47

  • Mooglepies #33 3 years ago

    Calling 'meh' on this, and I run a L4D server for my friends and I.

    I'll wait for the weekend deal on steam a few months after launch.

  • RedSparrows #34 3 years ago

    'I'm no xbox fan boy, but if nothing else, I think its about time people actually said congratulations to microsoft for even pulling level (and above in some cases) in the console market, on only their second try, when sony completley owned the market with the PS2. '

    That's the thing that always seems to be forgotten in the grand console fanboy wars. It's made the market more interesting, in some ways. Duller in others, perhaps.

  • gelf #35 3 years ago

    Sod Left for Dead I want HL:episode 3 some time this century!

  • makeamazing #36 3 years ago

    I think if you look at how long it normally takes Valve to make anything, normally they take their time and certainly dont rush it. Sorry but i dont agree that a few new skins, classes and features is a new version. DLC would have been perfect for that. Add that into the fact that Valve generally take ages to release anything, I do also suspect MS threw them money... but is that wrong? As long as people are happy paying that money for those features then its not an issue. I do get the impression that Gabe is a bit of a fanboy....lol.. oh well at least HL will be PC based.

  • autogunner #37 3 years ago

    ^^^^ THIS ^^^^

  • Matthew_Hornet #38 3 years ago

    Well, at least they're acknowledging the fact that it's too soon for a new L4D game. They've always been pretty good with managing the community, I hope they figure something out that will keep people happy.

  • man.the.king #39 3 years ago

    @Quint2020

    "All the additions they're going to add to this one could have been done with DLC, seems pointless to me. "

    Ah, but then they wouldn't be able to charge full price for the additions.

  • kwesleyb #40 3 years ago

    @Mooglepies

    I never knew there were any deals on steam...

    Wouldn't it be better just looking elsewhere such as play.com ect who'll have it at the fraction of the price to what steam will ever have it as?