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Half-Life is one of the greatest video games of all time and just ahead of its 25th anniversary on Sunday, Valve has released a major update for the first-person shooter. For one thing, the base game now includes Half-Life Uplink. This was a demo of Half-Life, but most of its content doesn’t appear in the original game.

Uplink was initially available on CDs that came free with magazines (remember those?) and hardware like sound cards. It’s also been available on the internet for a while for those who know where to look. But now players can access it by clicking the New Game button in Half-Life itself.

On top of that, Valve has added four spanking new multiplayer maps. Some might seem familiar, such as one based on an abandoned Xen outpost and another set at an old orbital satellite launch facility. “If we could switch on the oxygen lines, power, and fuel, we might just be able to light this candle,” Valve said. The company has added three other maps that were originally available on a disc called Half-Life: Further Data.

You can now, at long last, play the original Half-Life in widescreen without having to resort to mods or the fan remake Black Mesa. Valve has added controller support along with a string of other under-the-hood updates, UI tweaks and bug fixes. Steam Networking support should make multiplayer smoother too.

Although it’s a critical part of Valve’s history, Half-Life hadn’t been Verified for Steam Deck until now. It instead bore the Playable label. “We finally put our game through our own ‘Verified’ tests, and… we failed super hard,” Valve wrote. “So we fixed it! After re-testing the game, Half-Life gets to officially wear the green checkmark.” So, that means it should run on your new Steam Deck OLED without a hitch.

Best of all, in case you somehow don’t already have it in your library, Half-Life is free on Steam until November 20. Various Half-Life and Valve bundles are on sale too, while Half-Life Alyx is 66 percent off at $20.39.

It’s worth noting that Valve now considers the anniversary edition of Half-Life “to be the definitive version, and the one we’ll continue to support going forward.” As such, Valve says Half Life: Source will be less prominent on Steam, but it will remain available so modders can continue using its assets.

“We launched Half-Life on November 19, 1998. We are very proud of what we built back then and we remain extremely grateful for the community of players who have been enjoying it ever since,” Valve said. “The game hasn’t received as much attention in recent years as many other titles in our catalog, so we thought this milestone was a great opportunity to spruce up the player experience and add some fun new ways to play the game.”

Last but not least, Valve has released a new documentary to mark the 25th anniversary. The 65-minute film features developers and Valve co-founders discussing the company’s early days and their memories of working on Half-Life. Happy birthday, Mr. Freeman.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/half-lifes-big-25th-anniversary-update-includes-four-new-multiplayer-maps-and-much-more-193932590.html?src=rss

During an appearance at Variety’s Power of Women event, the Duchess of Sussex was asked why she thinks the show has had such a boom in viewership.

A remastered version of The Last Of Us Part 2 is coming to the PlayStation 5 in January, according to a leaked trailer from Sony. The new version of the hit post apocalyptic zombie adventure will be available on the platform on January 19, 2024, and will feature improved loading times, 4K graphics in the console’s Fidelity mode and full integration with the PS5’s new DualSense wireless controller. Insider Gaming and multiple leakers on X first wrote about the remastered version.

In addition to quality of life improvements, the game will also include a brand new “Roguelike Survival Mode,” which will allow players to “choose [their] path through a series of randomized encounters” and play as unlockable characters never before seen in the franchise. The remastered version will also include early versions of three new levels that weren’t present in the original game, as well as commentary from developers.

This isn’t the first time that a Last of Us trailer has leaked straight from Sony before an official announcement. The same thing happened last year with the remake of The Last of Us Part I.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered-is-coming-to-ps5-next-year-001232736.html?src=rss

Amazon is currently offering a significant discount on the Google Pixel Watch 2, which has reached a new all-time low of $301. This price cut comes despite the absence of an official Black Friday sale announcement from Google.

The Pixel Watch 2 features a familiar design but introduces a new heart rate sensor powered by Fitbit’s updated AI for improved health insights. With an extended battery life of 24 hours, including an always-on display, it has garnered positive reviews.

Google Pixel Watch 2 launch event. The watch can now be found on Amazon for only $301.

In addition to the Pixel Watch 2, Amazon is providing a rare opportunity to save on the official Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Slim S Pen case, currently priced at $78, down from the regular $100. This marks the second-ever discount on all three colors, offering savings of up to 22%. The case, made from eco-conscious silicone, provides extra grip and protection for the foldable phone, with a built-in S Pen slot for convenient stylus storage.

Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (check out our article on the Tab S9 series) is available on Amazon for $419 (down from its usual price of $450). This 128GB model, featuring an Exynos 1380 chip, 6GB of RAM, and an included S Pen, represents a new all-time low. For those seeking higher storage capacity, the 256GB variant is discounted to $488 (from $520), marking the second-ever price cut.

Additionally, Google’s official Pixel Watch bands are on sale, starting at $36. The Woven Band, available in Ivy and Lemongrass styles, is offered at a $9 discount from its regular $60 price, presenting new all-time lows. Made from recycled polyester yarn and featuring a stainless steel clasp and lugs, these bands offer a flexible and stylish option for Pixel Watch users.

Lastly, Insta360 is running early Black Friday deals on its action cameras, smartphone gimbals, and auto-tracking webcams. Notable among the discounts is the Insta360 Flow iPhone and Android Gimbal, now priced at $139, down from $159. With a foldable design, extending selfie stick, built-in tripod, and 3-axis stabilization, the Flow is recognized as one of the top iPhone gimbals on the market.

Amazon Discounts Google Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab, And More

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