Left 4 Dead 2 Steam demo tomorrow

By Robert Purchese Published 26 October, 2009

For pre-purchasers only.

Valve will offer early access to the Left 4 Dead 2 demo tomorrow to anybody who has pre-ordered the game on Steam.

If you fit the bill you can begin pre-loading the sampler now. If you don't, you can wait for the open demo-for-all on 3rd November.

Gold Xbox Live members can enjoy that taster on the same day (3rd November). Silver subscribers, on the other hand, need to wait until 10th November.

Left 4 Dead 2 launches proper on Steam from 17th November. Shops will stock the PC and Xbox 360 game from 20th November.

Those of you attending the Eurogamer Expo this week (sold out, sorry) will have even earlier access to the Xbox 360 demo, which will be set-up in LAN multiplayer for your amusement. Show begins tomorrow in Leeds and arrives in London at the weekend.

I'll be the one with "Bertie" on my back and hair on my face. Say hi!

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • charming_fox #1 2 years ago

    yum

  • Madafunkola #2 2 years ago

    What about the Game pre-oder Xbox 360 codes? Aren't they active from tomorrow too? (I hope so as I have one of them!)

  • skillian #3 2 years ago

    For Gold subscribers and pre-orderers only.

    I think they've forgotten what the whole point of a demo is for.

  • kangarootoo #4 2 years ago

    This sort of thing annoys me.

    Is a demo for me to demo a game, or is it an early play opportunity for those who have already made their decision?

  • skillian #5 2 years ago

    I think now it's just another sales incentive.

    "Buy today and get early access to the demo and a free in-game hat."

  • ChthonicEcho #6 2 years ago

    This sort of thing annoys me.

    What thing? Not getting what you want when you want it? Tough.

    Is it not painfully obvious that early demo access, made available to those who pre-ordered the game, is nothing but an appetiser, a reward for trust? Everyone whining about the early demo access should shut up and grow up. You're not denied access to the demo. It will come. Just later. You'll have an entire week to play it and decide whether you want to buy the game.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/09 @ 09:59

  • JahB #7 2 years ago

    Is it not painfully obvious that early demo access, made available to those who pre-ordered the game, is nothing but an appetiser, a reward for trust?

    uhm, no. it's a new way to milk money from people that can't wait.

  • dog #8 2 years ago

    @jahb

    not sure of your logic there... the fact that its cheaper to pre-order.... its not like they're charging people for just the demo...

    maybe that'd be a clever marketing ploy... charge $35 for the demo, get the game for free when its released....

    edit: its weird the reaction to this... like saying vlave have forgot what a demo is for... i'd agree if only pre-orders got it... but its not like that... pre-orders get it a few days early... is that really so bad?

    Edited by 1 at 26/10/09 @ 10:25

  • Gnoupi #9 2 years ago

    There will be 2 weeks of public demo for everyone. This early demo is only as a reward for people who preordered, simply. In this case it's not about attracting more people, it's about satisfying people who are already waiting for it, who paid for it already. It's like when other games allow preorderers to participate to some beta. You can be for or against such system, but from the eyes of someone who preordered, all you want is to play as soon as possible. And in this case yes, it makes a sense to have such earlier demo.

  • kinky_mong #10 2 years ago

    "Those of you attending the Eurogamer Expo this week (sold out, sorry) will have even earlier access to the Xbox 360 demo, which will be set-up in LAN multiplayer for your amusement."

    I thought the EG expo was meant to have the Scavenge mode to play, not just a demo that we'll have next week anyway!

  • Spekingur #11 2 years ago

    So, you people complaining about this - is GT5 Prologue okay then?

  • ukBoodhunter #12 2 years ago

    Its encouragement for people to pre order it pretty much, I've already got the demo pre loaded for tomorrow ;)

    Tbh though, I saved £10 by pre ordering it, so people who're saying you're paying for the demo need to look up their facts

    (i'm talking steam btw, dunno how it is in 360-land)
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/09 @ 11:14

  • ChthonicEcho #13 2 years ago

    uhm, no. it's a new way to milk money from people that can't wait.

    If people can't wait for something so trivial, then that means they already want the game and thus would benefit from pre-ordering.

  • Whizzo #14 2 years ago

    I must say the 4 pack of L4D2 was just too tempting to resist, it's handy having three colleagues who wanted it as well! Rather looking forward to the early demo as a bonus to the very nice price.

  • PlugMonkey #15 2 years ago

    Is this tomorrow as in 'tomorrow' or tomorrow as in 'dumb arsed Steam-time you get it on Wednesday'?

  • Lukree #16 2 years ago

    Just went for 4pack. Actually it's not too cheap comparing buying it with the media, but somehow I really want to support Valve for their great support reinventing multiplayer games. I find it pretty nice to have the game digitally stored for me!

  • kangarootoo #17 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    A demo is an advert. It shouldn't be presented like the dev is giving me something for free. I am giving them my time, and maybe as a result of me spending time trying out their advert, they might get my money.

    Yes, I fully realise this is a sales incentive. That is what I am complaining about, dumbass. Yes I realise it is a "reward" (its not a reward, its a sales incentive) for those who purchased early. That is what I am complaining about.

    And I also realise that Valve can do what they like, AND that they know their sales pitch better than I do. I just think demos should be treated as such.


    And as for growing up. One of us made a mild mannered complaint about the changing nature of demos, and the other spat his dummy right across the playground in response. I know who is grown up and who isn't mate, and it matters not one little bit to me that a child disagrees.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/09 @ 12:58

  • christourlord #18 2 years ago

    http://en.wikip edia.org/wiki/Ellipsis

  • ChthonicEcho #19 2 years ago

    @kangaratoo

    So, you admit that the sole reason you're complaining is that others get the early access to the demo, and you don't? Okay... I've nothing else to add.

  • davisorle #20 2 years ago

    @Spekingur
    lol good one. They wont complain. Its Sony behind that one ;) Dont you see them instead trashing competition while they wait? Keeps them busy.

    On topic. Yeah, the fact that Valve decided to use the demo as a reward for the ones that already decided and bought their product and give them earlier access is plain stupid. I rather they give me something extra ( like a map that would cost even just 1$ extra to others or whatever, than give me a demo for it and have the rest wait for the demo longer. I honestly dont know wtf is up with making such move. But I wont deny im excited about L4D2 :)

    Other than this retarded choice of L4D2 demo, I have lots respect for Valve. They need a new Source engine asap :)

  • kangarootoo #21 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    I am complaining that a demo is being treated like a commodity the player should pay to have access to (early or otherwise).

    If the demo is ready, release it to the world and let it do its job of being an advert for the game.

    P.s. I might add that I don't give a hoot whether anyone else has access to the demo or not. It is just your childish mentality that makes you think that sort of sour grapes nonsense is part of the picture. Your head might work that way, mine does not.


    "Okay... I've nothing else to add."

    Please let it be so.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/09 @ 13:55

  • ZuluHero #22 2 years ago

    For the sake of ruining the arguement, if you preorder in GAME they give you a code for tomorrows demo (either PC or 360) and you don't have to pay a deposit or anything. So say you didn't like it, or if you didn't like their prices, you don't have to buy it from them.

    They don't care as from their point of view their store meets any pre-order targets they might have.

  • 4thVariety #23 2 years ago

    Steam somehow lost its magic when $1 became 1€ and games on Steam are now more expensive than retail.

  • promba #24 2 years ago

    This makes my really happy :D

  • GooseUK #25 2 years ago

    WOA! you dont have to pay for a preorder, chill the F out! lol

  • DAN.E.B #26 2 years ago

    Well im going to preorder from game to get the code
    how big is the demo? is it vs or only campain?

  • Natversion1 #27 2 years ago

    Well you know there is a simple solution for anyone in the Uk wanting the xbox demo, go to Game online and pre-order, get code then cancel pre-order, that's what I did to get the World at War Beta and COD 4 beta.