Valve dates and details L4D2 demo

By Robert Purchese Published 15 October, 2009

Co-op and has all-new infected, tools.

Valve has laid out pre-order and general release timings for the Left 4 Dead 2 demo.

They're soon, but not as soon as the Eurogamer Expo, where you'll be able to play L4D2 co-operatively within touching difference of your friends. Leeds and London are the locations. The cost: just six quid. The EG Expo mini-site has the scoop. But buy quick; ticket sales are accelerating.

PC owners win, as the pre-order (Steam, participating retailers) demo goes live on 27th October, with open access following on 3rd November.

Xbox 360 picks up the baton from there, as Xbox Live Gold members can play from 3rd November, and Silver members from 10th November.

The Left 4 Dead 2 demo offers gameplay from The Parish campaign. Up to four people can play, with two-player split-screen an option on Xbox 360. All of the new boss Infected and melee weapons are present in the demo.

Left 4 Dead 2 launches on Steam on 17th November and in shops on 20th November.

Our gamepages below have much much more information.

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 (23) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • DDevil #1 2 years ago

    It's weird. Half of me is "FUCK YEAH!" about L4D2, and half of me can't be arsed. I think it's because I don't know if any of my friends will be getting it.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #2 2 years ago

    It's utterly brilliant with friends, but forgettable without. It's better than take it or leave it though - well worth the effort of hunting out friends to play with. Not convinced? Come to the Eurogamer Expo to try it out in co-op.

  • ChthonicEcho #3 2 years ago

    @DDevil

    It's easier to make friends in this game than to pick up fanny at a pub. Hell, I'll play with you, if you want (if you game on the PC, that is).

    Also, I wish it would be said just how much of Parish would be playable, or what modes are unlocked. Useless information, but it would make me more excited.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/09 @ 17:04

  • ZuluHero #4 2 years ago

    I’m not missing it this time.

    Incidentally doesn't it seem silly to have a silver restriction on this one? I know it has offline split-screen, but the majority of people will want to play this over LIVE. Its catch-22. Or is it a paradox? I can never remember.

  • DFawkes #5 2 years ago

    I'm not sure it's a good idea to play within touching distance of friends - they can give give me a slap when I'm being rubbish! Good to hear though, I'm really looking forward to having a go of the new Infected like the Charger :)

  • wombat987 #6 2 years ago

    EG say 17th Nov, where as steam says it is available on the 18th Nov...

    Confused... lol
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/09 @ 17:08

  • penhalion #7 2 years ago

    It's 18th as the US has a Wednesday release cycle as opposed to our friday one.

  • kinky_mong #8 2 years ago

    Hope to be playing with some of you lovely people at the London Expo on the Friday.

  • kangarootoo #9 2 years ago

    "It's easier to make friends in this game than to pick up fanny at a pub"

    So you've given up trying? ;)

  • iamian #10 2 years ago

    I'm sure I saw Game advertising a weeks early access to the demo if you preorder from them... might be the PC version though...

  • ChthonicEcho #11 2 years ago

    @kangaratoo

    No, I merged the two theses and offer them a game of Left 4 Dead. Works every time.

  • altitude2k #12 2 years ago

    I'm on the fence about this, so haven't pre-ordered. Denying me access to a demo isn't exactly encouraging me to take the dive.

  • giant_frying_pan #13 2 years ago

    You're not being denied access. You can get it on the 10th of November.

    The GAME pre-order offer is for 360 and PC, and you should get the code by the 27th of October (even for 360).

  • metalangel #14 2 years ago

    Left4Dead is the premier 'press X to help other players back onto their feet after they've been knocked over' franchise on the Xbox 360!

  • makeamazing #15 2 years ago

    Probably not going to rush out and buy it this time, made that mistake last time and paid way over the odds for it... going to invest in Dragons Age instead and wait until the new year and hopefully steam will reduce it.

  • organica #16 2 years ago

    Nice one. I'll be front and centre for the Leeds Expo as well, so feel free to laugh at my shoddy skills.

  • curtlikesmeat #17 2 years ago

    Episode 3.

  • macmurphy #18 2 years ago

    There's a demo running at Thorpe Park at the moment. Parish, two levels (first two as far as I can make out) with four player local co-op. Played it quite a bit, not seen any axes or chainsaws but have seen frying pan, baton, sword, magnum (melee/close), and autoshotgun, silenced submachinegun, AK 47, grenade launcher, 30 round sniper rifle and some G3 lookalike with 3 round bursts. It plays a blinder, so if anyone's wanting some theme park hilarity with optional zombie slaying, crack on.

    The second level shows the new 'gauntlet' style of play where you have to run and gun to a fixed location - round a wire mesh maze to turn an alarm off. Also shows off charger (ballache), jockey (funny but even bigger ballache), spitter (mmmm, thong) and walking witch (just a standard infected, oh wait...).

  • Iain815 #19 2 years ago

    All very well, but where's Episode 3?

    If we don't hear anything before Christmas this year it'll be beyond a fucking joke.

  • penhalion #20 2 years ago

    @Iain815

    I've been wondering what the frak happened to Half Life Episode 3 too. It's already beyond a joke in my book. It's like valve are doing everything in their power to get people to forget they ever promised to put out an episode every 6 months.

  • Wolverfrog #21 2 years ago

    I just want Episode 3...so badly. It's getting ridiculous now, I want to find out what happens to the Combine, what the Borealis is, what happens now Elyne (sp?) is dead, and just who is the mysterious "G-man?"

    Get on with it Valve.

  • Nephirion #22 2 years ago

    I will never again buy a Valve product for the 360 firstly MS repackage free updates as DLC and force you to pay for them on live and secondly the lack of on-going support for the 360 versions is appaling, TF2 hasn't had any new content for over a year wtf. It clear from their lack of action that Valve don't really give a shit about their console customers
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/09 @ 12:07

  • Ha10B1a573r #23 2 years ago

    I've ordered my copy from Gamesbasement for £25 (http://ww w.gamesbasement.co.uk/games-fir... but even if it means I don't get the PC demo, at least I can play it at the EG Expo the same day as the demo's release anyway :D