Valve announces Half-Life 2: Episode One is gold, and the first installment in
what will turn out to be a trilogy of follow-ups to their shooter sequel is due
next week:
HALF-LIFE® 2: EPISODE ONE AVAILABLE JUNE 1
Valve Launches First of an Episodic Trilogy
Bellevue, WA, May 22, 2006 - Valve®, developer of the blockbuster series
Half-Life® and Counter-Strike™, announced Half-Life® 2: Episode One has gone
gold. Episode One is the first in a trilogy of episodes that will conclude by
Christmas of 2007.
Half-Life 2: Episode One advances the 15-million unit selling franchise and
launches the first in a new, three-part series that leads far beyond City 17.
Half-Life 2: Episode One does not require Half-Life 2 to play, and will be
available via Steam® and at retail stores in North America for just $19.95 on
June 1st. Also included in Episode One is a first look at Episode Two, which
will ship by year's end.
"Given the rapid changes in PC gaming, we expect episodic games will have the
same impact on single-player gaming that Counter-Strike had on multiplayer,"
said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "The frequent releases of
upgraded technology and new content works better for both consumers and
developers, and is one of the key reasons Counter-Strike grew to be 80% of the
online action market. We decided that a follow-up to Half-Life 2 delivered in 18
months with our first episode was more in tune with what our customers want than
waiting 6 years for another monolithic product."
Episode One offers a new single player experience created by Valve, and is
designed to be four to six hours in length. Stepping into the hazard suit of Dr.
Gordon Freeman, you face the immediate repercussions of your actions in City 17
and the Citadel. Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, will accompany you in your
efforts to aid in the human resistance's desperate battle against the
totalitarian alien menace of the Combine.
In addition to the new single player experience, two multiplayer games are
included. And those who purchase Episode One will have free access via Steam (www.steamgames.com)
to Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, the interactive technology demo that introduces High
Dynamic Range lighting to the Source™ Engine, Valve's award-winning game
technology.