In 2004, the gaming giant Valve released one of its most iconic games, the physics-based first-person shooter Half-Life 2, which brought many technological revolutions. While the game was impressive, its franchise was overshadowed by the third game’s infamous disappearance. 20 years later, however, Valve managed to renew interest in the game with a huge anniversary event on Steam. This celebratory update added many improvements and surprises to the game. This is big news because this game became one of the most influential entries in the FPS genre. Here is a breakdown of this huge milestone for Valve’s classic game, Half-Life 2.

Half-Life 2’s Sales Spike

Rise and shine, Dr. Freeman. According to IGN, Valve’s classic first-person shooter Half-Life 2 has reached its highest recorded player count on its 20th anniversary. The game reached 64 thousand users simultaneously this past weekend, a massive victory by all metrics. Valve owns Steam, so they’ve done their best to ensure this timeless game stays relevant through sales events. The game is otherwise a timeless entry in the FPS genre, so any connoisseur of classic games should experience the game at least once.

To celebrate the event, Valve made the game free to download until November 18 and made several anniversary updates to keep it fresh. They updated the base game to include Episodes 1, 2, and Lost Coast, improved the graphics, and added additional developers’ commentary. Additionally, Valve released a two-hour documentary on the game’s creation. They’ve also made it far easier to access mods in-game.

The Original Classic

Few games in the history of the first-person shooter genre are as iconic as Valve’s Half-Life 2. The game tells the story of mute theoretical physicist Dr. Gordon Freeman, who wakes up after two decades in suspended animation to find Earth overtaken by the alien Combine. Critics praised everything from its chilling ambiance to its set designs. As shown by the game’s commentary, Valve went to great lengths to playtest the game perfectly.

One of the game’s most well-remembered elements was its revolutionary physics engine. While most players today would take it for granted, the realistic physics of objects created a new level of immersion for 3D games. The iconic “gravity gun” exemplified this, allowing players to take full advantage of this system. Furthermore, the game is set within the same universe as the Portal puzzle games, which used this new technology similarly.

The Infamous Lost Third Game

Of course, when many gamers think of Half-Life 2, they think of Half-Life 3, the most infamous example of development hell in gaming. Half-Life 2’s story was originally divided into “episodes” for quicker releases. However, the third game seemingly vanished after Episode 2 ended on a cliffhanger. Frustratingly, the developer’s commentary included clear plans for the third game’s events.

After Episode 3’s cancellation, Half-Life 3 evolved into a pop culture phenomenon twenty years later despite never being released. “Half-Life 3 Confirmed” became one of the longest-lasting memes in video game history, with other jokes about Valve being unable to count to three rising. Given development hell’s reputation for a game’s quality, it’s probably for the better it wasn’t rushed out.

As a ray of hope, the 20th anniversary of the game came with a two-hour documentary on the making of the iconic game. This included insights into Half-Life 3 and even unused gameplay footage. One element was a freeze-ray players could use to create walls and terrain. Furthermore, 2020’s Half-Life: Alyx ended on a new cliffhanger teasing a sequel.

Conclusion

Half-Life 2’s massive anniversary shows how much staying power the game had over the years. Even if Half-Life 3 never arrived, Valve did not forget about the game that started and worked to ensure it was in its best form for the fans. Furthermore, the team finally relieved fans of many of the series’ unanswered questions. In an era when many live-service games have failed and other classic developers have succumbed to massive layoffs, it’s reassuring that gamers still appreciate these timeless single-player experiences.