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[PC, Steam] Free - Half-Life 2 (20th anniversary edition) @ Steam

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[PC, Steam] Free - Half-Life 2 (20th anniversary edition) @ Steam
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Taegukgi on 16/11/2024 - 08:49 store.steampowered.com (9197 clicks)
Last edited 16/11/2024 - 13:52 by 2 other users

From now through the weekend (until November 18th at 10am Pacific) Half-Life 2 is free to own, so if you've never played before, grab it now and keep it forever.

  1. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. Valve's debut title wins more than 50 game-of-the-year awards on its way to being named "Best PC Game Ever" by PC Gamer, and launches a franchise with more than eight million retail units sold…

Episodes One and Two are in the box. Half-Life 2 now includes the complete Episode One and Episode Two expansions along with the base game. They’re accessible from the main menu, and you will automatically advance to the next expansion after completing each one.

Developers Commentary for Half-Life 2. While the Episodes have always had commentary tracks, the base game never did… until now. We got the team back to record three and a half hours of new behind-the-scenes commentary for Half-Life 2.

Integrated Steam Workshop support. Browse, install, and play user-created content for Half-Life 2 without ever leaving the game. Look for it in the Extras menu!

Bug fixes and new graphics options. Visual pops, missing sprites, and mismatched lighting introduced in updates over the years have been scrubbed away. And we've added some settings to push the visual fidelity of Half-Life 2 farther than was allowed in the original release.

Check out all the latest and upcoming Free Games.
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Comments

  • solidussnake on 16/11/2024 - 08:51
    +33

    This game hits me right in the feels

    • Lizard Spock on 16/11/2024 - 08:57
      +59

      Not as good as Half Life 3

      • fat queenslander on 16/11/2024 - 10:09
        +1

        Heard of, but haven't played Alyx yet, is it any good?

        • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 10:33

          Yeah it's insane

          • max99 on 16/11/2024 - 10:43

            @wetsandwich: Better than GTA VI?

            • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 11:38

              @max99: Never played that, but all I can say was when I was playing Alyx i was genuinely gobsmacked for the first time in many years. Every level is a completely different theme or environment and it has the smooth flowing story of all the previous games, but this time you're IN the game and it doesn't look the kind of jerky glitchy HL2 graphics from 2005.

              I since sold my VR headset as no other game can or will ever compare so there's literally no point even trying any other game after that life changer.

            • ihfree on 16/11/2024 - 20:29

              @max99: Different. We know roughly what to expect based on GTA5.

              As a gaming experience, HL Alyx is much more unique. The control scheme and interaction with the environment is great.

              Would recommend both.

        • JownehFixIT on 16/11/2024 - 10:44

          I didn't want to shell out on VR gear so played a novr mod of it. It was awesome fun still, but missing that immersive element of actual interactive VR. One day I'd like to get into it with a headset. For heaven's sake, even friendlyjordies has played it in VR!

    • bdl on 16/11/2024 - 09:10
      +18

      you've only lived half a life

    • MrFrugalSpend on 16/11/2024 - 10:03
      +9

      Presuming you aren't being sarcastic, you must be young…

      A bit of gaming history - we probably owe everything about modern FPS games with story-telling narrative, plus the birth of the "Steam" platform itself (rather than buying games on disc) to the legacy of this significant family of games… !

      If you are interested, you can read this article "How Half Life Changed the Gaming World"
      https://www.projectreylo.com/post/how-half-life-changed-the-….

  • perfectlydark on 16/11/2024 - 08:56
    +3

    sweet dont know why i never bought it for a few dollars, played a friends account years back

  • Hugh Man on 16/11/2024 - 09:01
    +23

    This must mean half life 3 getting released just in time for Christmas

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/11/2024 - 09:03
      +17

      That’s when I would know I must have died in my sleep

    • Lanushi on 16/11/2024 - 09:03
      +7

      A man can dream

      • YoursTruly on 16/11/2024 - 10:30
        +3

        …or die happy

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/11/2024 - 13:33
          +3

          Me as an old man on death bed

          Nurse: James, Jim, Jimothy - half life 3 has been released.

          Me: nice

          dies

          • YoursTruly on 16/11/2024 - 14:07

            @Jimothy Wongingtons: Nurse 2 speaking to Nurse 1

            Nurse 2: …..it was actually released 33 years ago, wasn’t it? We’re now in HL7.

            Nurse 2: (looking at James) sigh….poor James was in a comma 3 years prior to its release though….and just woke up today….you basically killed the guy…

            Nurse 1: oh well….let’s go play Virtua Fighter 6 and Shenmue 4 with my grand pa in the next ward…They were just released yesterday. He’s been waiting ages for them and he’s super hyped!!

    • pichxlonco on 16/11/2024 - 09:10
      +4

      No, today is the 20th anniversary for half life 2

      • diamondd on 16/11/2024 - 13:38

        I was there Gandalf…

    • gakko on 16/11/2024 - 09:55
      +3

      This move is definitely half life 3 confirmed.

    • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 12:56

      Alyx was HL3 anyway

  • Dealf Hunter on 16/11/2024 - 09:04
    +12

    'Just add and forget'? Sacrilege!

    • Dragonhorn on 16/11/2024 - 09:05
      +2

      You don't forget the classics

  • nomoneynobitches on 16/11/2024 - 09:04
    +2

    Got HL1 for free last year. Have to get around to actually playing them, I loved Portal…

  • REDavo on 16/11/2024 - 09:05
    +30

    With all due respect, you do not just add and forget Half Life 2.

  • FireRunner on 16/11/2024 - 09:08
    +12

    Anyone looking to make it a co-op experience - see the free mod Synergy

    • JownehFixIT on 16/11/2024 - 10:49
      +1

      Sick, I didn't know that existed!

  • Coltrainz on 16/11/2024 - 09:15

    Wow. That took 5 seconds.

    Anyone know how I could VR mod this and play it through a Quest 3s? Too ambitious?

    • FireRunner on 16/11/2024 - 09:17
      +4

      I've not tried it but it shouldn't be too difficult with the free mod

    • MrMcHairyHead on 16/11/2024 - 10:34
      +1

      I played it in VR on my Oculus Developer Kit 1 in 2012 so I know there's some type of mod somewhere

    • cille745 on 16/11/2024 - 11:34
      +2

      There’s a full VR mod for this in the Steam Workshop

      I actually reckon it’s even better than Alyx

    • ihfree on 16/11/2024 - 23:13
      +1

      I've played a bit but unfortunately got stuck as I ran into a bug that is not specific to VR.

      It works really well - I need to go back and finish it at some point.

  • cryptowiz on 16/11/2024 - 09:16

    Thanks OP.

  • TheDukeOfNukem on 16/11/2024 - 09:22
    +2

    This is because I bought the Half-Life series when I bought a Steam Deck and still never played it, isn't it?

    I've started HL1 so many times but never got too far, even had the PS2 version at one point, had the DC version in all my emulators for years, then some of my Game Boys started to get PortMaster and I put the real thing on there, then I got a SD and finally could play actual proper PC Half-Life with zero compromizes. Still haven't touched it. Some day I'd like to. :'( Woe is me.

    • tonyjzx on 16/11/2024 - 09:24

      yeah back in the day everyone pretty much smashed thru it on pc

      if it was a book you'd say you couldnt put it down

    • sklzthtklz on 16/11/2024 - 09:40
      +2

      Check out black mesa, it's a rebuild of half life one but with a lot of QOL improvements

      • TheDukeOfNukem on 16/11/2024 - 10:13

        I saw it was on sale the other day for a few bucks (wasn't included in my big bundle), is that the way to play? I thought Source would be most accurate but modern, but if BM is perfectly fine as a jump in point I'd probs pick that

        • Richfield on 16/11/2024 - 10:38

          Linux version has issues on Steam Deck, need to force the Windows version.

        • Smigit on 16/11/2024 - 10:59

          For authentic the Source versions the way to go. Pretty much the original with nicer water etc.

          Black Mesa modernises the game but changes things up along the way, including the final 1/3 being drastically overhauled I believe.

          Both are probably fine to go with, depending what you want to experience.

          If you enjoy the game, then the Opposing Force expansion from memory was worth a go.

  • shabaka on 16/11/2024 - 09:37
    +2

    you've got to watch Freeman's Mind! changed my perception of HL 1 and 2 forever 😂

    • mantichoral on 16/11/2024 - 19:20

      I searched Steam for Half Life - including the freebies.

      There's an indie attempt at a Half-Life movie, and Freeman is done well.

  • MrFrugalSpend on 16/11/2024 - 10:02
    +1

    Counter-Strike Source is also 20 years old this month - I wonder why no big sale on it, would buy it again for the nostalgia to play once or twice, but it's not even reduced

  • dealsforlife on 16/11/2024 - 10:03
    +1

    One of the greatest series of games of all time! Thanks OP!

  • Jessek3672 on 16/11/2024 - 10:04
    +2

    They're waiting for you Gordon….. In the testchambeR

    • Velocita on 17/11/2024 - 00:21

      Sentences you can hear

  • scotty on 16/11/2024 - 10:08
    +4

    Valve actually updated this game 20 years later. Might spend the summer playing it again.

  • fat queenslander on 16/11/2024 - 10:18

    Back in the day, I bought the orange box, best collection of games ever. Nothing since came even close to the value from those few games. If you haven't played HL2 yet this is a must

    • blackswanman on 18/11/2024 - 09:50

      I got thousands of hours out of the orange box, HL2, TF2 and Portal. One of the best bundles ever

  • icarus255 on 16/11/2024 - 10:19
    -4

    Man, what a time it was to be alive. A time when games were made for gamers and not to promote bs woke agendas for cookie points with some loud minorities.

    • johnno07 on 18/11/2024 - 10:53

      Imagine selecting a classic videogame, that actually includes a diverse cast of characters, to have a moan about your ill-perceived state-of-the-art.

  • JohnnyP on 16/11/2024 - 10:21

    I have the orange box on PS3 in a box in the shed… But having HL2 on my PC is always handy if I get bored much like LFD2

  • YoursTruly on 16/11/2024 - 10:27
    +1

    🥲

  • smileys on 16/11/2024 - 10:34

    Half life 2 the main reason to have steam back in the day. Good memories!

  • Doveman87 on 16/11/2024 - 10:35
    +2

    Anyone else spun out when they bought this at retail 20 years ago only to get a piece of paper with a code on it….

    • Aureus on 16/11/2024 - 10:51
      +4

      And then you had to install some crappy app, that you would probably never use again, just to download and play HL2.

    • Smigit on 16/11/2024 - 10:54

      Nah. I got the collectors edition that day plus I believe the Raising the Bar art book the same day. The art book was all the physical content I needed.

      Haven’t needed it for years, but looking at the eBay listing for the collectors edition, it did include a disc still. I do vaguely recall getting a jewel DVD case and probably still have it around somewhere.

      I do remember going home and setting up Steam but.

      • Doveman87 on 16/11/2024 - 11:19

        Yeah i remember a jewel dvd case in the box but no dvd just a code

        • Smigit on 16/11/2024 - 11:23

          I’ll have to check mine. Out of town but so can’t. This eBay listing has a DVD but.

          Not that what is in that disc will be of any use now days.

          Can’t remember what happened with my shirt either. Still have the box, but I assume I did wear the shirt to death and then chucked it.

    • johnno07 on 18/11/2024 - 11:36
      +2

      My copy, purchased January 2005, came in a box with 5 CDs in paper sleeves that included CS: Source and the Steam client (source: I'm looking at it right now). Completely WTF at the notion of having to install whatever this "Steam" thing was.

  • theSav on 16/11/2024 - 10:37
    +4

    HL3 confirmed

  • thisisscotts on 16/11/2024 - 10:40
    +3

    HL2's 20th anniversary… dear lord…

  • Clear on 16/11/2024 - 10:54
    +1

    Remember how ground breaking the physics was when this came out? Good memories. Especially with Gmod

    • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 13:47

      I remember playing that leaked sandbox of one level and just thinking 'nah, no way will they ever finish a game like this, it's too good to exist'

      • Clear on 16/11/2024 - 14:04

        Too bad so much from the Beta was cut from the final release. It would have been so much better than it is.

    • DiggyWombat on 18/11/2024 - 22:25

      to think that skibiddi toilet wouldn't exist without half life 2. what a time to be alive.

  • Ademos on 16/11/2024 - 11:05
    +2

    A full nvidia-sponsored, fan-made RTX Remaster is dropping soon : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FZ49Ou8zAE

    Announced yesterday.

    Wishlistable here : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477290/HalfLife_2_RTX/

    I think several fan groups amalgamated into this one project, so it looks real.

    • wonderboy4 on 17/11/2024 - 21:36

      Thanks for the links 👍

  • Breno785au on 16/11/2024 - 11:17
    +4

    I've waited 20 years for this to become free, worth the wait suckers!

  • GTR12 on 16/11/2024 - 11:22
    +1

    I feel sorry for the people that actually haven't played this.

  • pebblewave on 16/11/2024 - 11:27
    +3

    When are they going to release Full Life?

    • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 13:46

      Half life has been 20 years so far, based on the decay rate, another 20?

  • PinzVidz on 16/11/2024 - 11:27
    +2

    Something's brewing at Valve, sequel to Alyx incoming..

    • Smigit on 16/11/2024 - 12:39
      +1

      I hope not. I’m sure Alyx is an amazing game, but I haven’t had a chance to play it due to the VR requirement. Hoping we get something more traditional.

      At the very least if they do Alyx, throw out a PSVR version for PS.

      Edit: I wonder if they’d want to ship a VR game today that didn’t support the Steamdeck, either. I assume they would, but never know if that’s a deterrent.

  • Dlw on 16/11/2024 - 11:28

    Absolute classic. Reminds me of the days playing cs at the internet cafes.

  • AnyGoodDeals on 16/11/2024 - 11:37

    Weird, after installing Half Life2 in steam, antivirus deleted a file in HalfLife2 bin folder marking as Trojan

    • GandalfTheCheap on 16/11/2024 - 12:18
      +2

      Which antivirus? Most are more malware themselves than actually stopping any malware, these days.

      • wetsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 13:46
        +1

        Yep don't bother using anything but windows defender

      • AnyGoodDeals on 16/11/2024 - 20:27

        It was Kaspersky :D Russian guys didn't like the file i think

  • dqtl74 on 16/11/2024 - 11:39
    +1

    I still remember the moment I booted up the game and entered City 17 for the first time. Life was so much simpler back then…

  • Homerlovesbeer on 16/11/2024 - 11:46
    +2

    RTX says also free but not available yet?

    • GandalfTheCheap on 16/11/2024 - 12:17
      +2

      Yeah comes out soon.

      If it's like Portal RTX, it'll be free for anyone who owns the original version, so get that now.

  • beefsandwich on 16/11/2024 - 11:47

    "Another free Steam game for you. Just add and forget."

    Not that it matters, but I guess this highlights how seriously people take posting on OzB. For this dude it was a race to post something he knows nothing about as quickly as possible.

  • Mike Huntissaur on 16/11/2024 - 12:12
    +1

    What a game

  • Ultraman on 16/11/2024 - 13:02
    +1

    Alyx is $29.90 again now.

  • jasswolf on 16/11/2024 - 13:06
    +5

    OP has massively buried the lead here, you're getting the 20th anniversary edition, which bakes Ep 1 & 2 into the base game along with the Lost Coast DLC.

    Enormous freebie!

  • Jokerchris2000 on 16/11/2024 - 13:16
    +1

    Amazing. Thanks OP

  • aja12 on 16/11/2024 - 13:26
    +4

    Valve just dropped a 2 hour documentary on their YouTube channel on the making of the game.

  • scrawny on 16/11/2024 - 13:30

    That's a lot cheaper than the $100 HL2 Collector's Edition Box that I bought about 25 years ago.

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