Great news for everyone still addicted to Left 4 Dead. Valve has confirmed that the DLC will be released free of charge for both PC and 360, which is kind of incredible since we know that Microsoft allowing a company to release free DLC is extremely rare. It's nice to see that Valve is finally being given some freedom to stick to their standard operating procedure, and that Microsoft is finally relaxing some of its more ridiculous policies.
Still no word on a specific release date other than "Spring", but knowing that it's going to be free should make the wait a little less painful. Hit the jump for the full press release, and talk about how excited you are in the comments!
L4D DLC: FREE ON 360 & PC
February 11, 2009 - The recently announced Left 4 Dead Downloadable Content (L4D DLC) will be delivered to Xbox 360 and PC gamers free of charge. Due for release this spring, the DLC for 2008's best-selling new game property on the PC and Xbox 360, is dubbed the L4D Survival Pack and introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode (Death Toll, Dead Air). A Critic's Choice Edition of the game will be heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack. Left 4 Dead is a survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Released in November of 2008, L4D has earned over 25 industry awards from outlets around the world. For more information, please visit www.l4d.com
Wait... other developers say all the time that they would love to give us DLC for free but can't because big, mean Microsoft is "making" them charge us. Guess there is one less excuse now.
Free DLC over Live? So, are we being lied to when some random company complains about Microsoft forcing them to charge, or did Valve give up some kind of concession in exchange? I absolutely refuse the Microsoft let them release the DLC free out of the kindness of their hearts and Valve, while being a prestigious company, doesn't seem big enough to to throw its weight around with Microsoft on something like this.
If you will excuse me, I need to go fetch my tinfoil hat.
I am glad that it's free. I would have bought it though. I just want more that dead air and death toll to be unlocked and survival mode. I was really hoping for a new campain or two. Here's to hoping survival mode is good.
Damn right we shouldn't have to pay for the other 2 versus campaigns, took long enough to confirm that. They're still being slow as shit with getting them out the door though, that's basically 25% of the game that was missing on release.
go go gadget internet powahs! you just know deep down even a whisper of double standard with one getting free other paying caused an outcry somewhere. especially for 50% worth of content already on the disc and should of been playable from day zero.
I should probably clarify what I said. I am well aware that smaller studios don't have the financial resources to pay off MS (assuming that's even what happened here). I talking more about companies like Epic that try to say they really want to release free content and probably have the financial resources to do so (again assuming they need to pay MS to release it for free), but then don't and try to paint MS as the bad guys.
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12:40 PM on 02.11.2009 
