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[Draugoth]

Half-Life triples its own Steam record after big Valve update

1998's Half-Life has just hit a new Steam player record, after Valve releases a comprehensive update and makes the game free for a time.

www.pcgamesn.com

With Half-Life still free to keep for a brief time and Valve releasing a colossal 25th-anniversary update for the iconic FPS, we’ve seen a monumental player increase in the game. Between restored cut content, entirely new multiplayer maps, and even an hour-long documentary celebrating the game, Half-Life is well and truly back.


If, for some reason, the game isn’t already in your library you’ve still got some time to redeem the Half-Life free game offer. The Valve FPS game is a true classic and one that I’ve had the pleasure of playing for the first time at the start of this year. 1998’s Half-Life holds up astoundingly well, and the amount of people flocking back to the halls of Black Mesa proves it.


Over the past decade, Half-Life has sat around 500 concurrent Steam players, but with the 25th-anniversary update, we’ve seen a new all-time peak (from SteamDB’s modern tracking at least) of around 31,000 players. By my estimations, that’s an average increase of almost 6,000% just from one update.

​

This is entirely because of the recent Half-Life anniversary update, which adds in the original Uplink demo, four brand-new multiplayer maps, Steam Deck verified status, a UI rework for 4k, and a whole lot more. The game is free right now too, of course, but I’d wager that the Valve shooter doesn’t need to be free to pump the ownership numbers up. Everyone already owns Half-Life, after all (now especially).

 

[tommycronin]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

 

[Revolutionary]

Half-Life triples its own Steam record after big Valve update

 

[Magic Carpet]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

You took the bait. Visit the report button to remove the hook from your mouth.

 

[adamsapple]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

It's not from the article, it's a Draugoth special.

 

[tommycronin]

You took the bait. Visit the report button to remove the hook from your mouth.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

so you added starfield for what reason exactly? I thought this was a HL thread.

 

[Pidull]

​

I just replayed Half-life less than a month ago, hold up surprisingly well. I hope new players enjoy it just as much as I do.

 

[Arsic]

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

 

[MMaRsu]

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

Its the og

 

[NanaMiku]

Probably because of the documentary too

 

[adamsapple]

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

Nostalgia. Or if you don't like the modifications Black Mesa made.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

I find the og Half Life to have quite a different atmosphere to Black Mesa.

One of the main differences for example is BM makes far more use of music/soundtrack compared to HL, which mainly used ambient sounds to build the atmosphere. Xen levels are also completely different, being much darker and generally shorter in HL.

Both are great games, but its undeniable BM took a lot of creative freedoms. You play Half Life if you want to have the original experience, and play Black Mesa if you don't care as much about authencity and prefer the modern improvements.

 

[Silver Wattle]

Everyone already owns Half-Life, after all (now especially).​

I don't own any valve games.
edit: damn it, just seen that I somehow own dota 2.

 

[KyoZz]

Starfield? Grow up ffs Draugoth
At least put some Valve games in that comparaison.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I don't own any valve games.
edit: damn it, just seen that I somehow own dota 2.

Its free, might as well own another one now

 

[violence]

Baby Yoda's may or may not be off put by how box-y it looks, but it's an n64 era game on steroids. You can also play Half-life RTX if you want OG with a twist. Not sure if the new update broke things in the RTX mod though.

 

[Draugoth]

Starfield? Grow up ffs Draugoth
At least put some Valve games in that comparaison.

Someone posted it on twitter, so i used it for comparassion sake.

 

[Silver Wattle]

Its free, might as well own another one now

 

[kiphalfton]

Played through black mesa, hated the last third of it.

But may try half life, as I've never actually played it.

 

[simpatico]

The MP is popping and a ton of fun. Nothing too serious, just getting silly with the boys.

 

[simpatico]

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

Black Mesa is not Half Life. It's good, but it doesn't feel or look quite right. Gotta try the real thing. It's like if they polished and remade Super Mario World. Could be really good, but it's not gonna move and play like the real thing.

 

[IFireflyl]

I just got it since it is free. I have never played Half-Life before, and I have no idea what I am in for. Thanks Draugoth !

 

[adamsapple]

I just got it since it is free. I have never played Half-Life before, and I have no idea what I am in for. Thanks Draugoth !

Oh wow, you're in for a treat. You're playing it way too late so you might not get what the big deal about it was, but try to put yourself in the 1998 mindset.

 

[DaGwaphics]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

It's that good as a single player that it is now the barometer for games with multi-player as well.

 

[lh032]

so PCMR into remasters as well.

 

[Ronin_7]

Wasn't expecting this thread to have that Starfield taste.

 

[MMaRsu]

Someone posted it on twitter, so i used it for comparadsion sake.

Classic beloved game that is free has more players than meddling game that is 60€ wow

What a comparison

 

[NEbeast]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

I mean it was game of generation according to gaf. Its also hilarious to see how many xbox fanboys get triggered by it.

 

[Elysium44]

What does 'adds in the uplink demo' mean? Is it now integrated into the full game? Does this mean we can no longer play the game as it originally was? I don't like that if so.

 

[Elysium44]

I don't own any valve games.
edit: damn it, just seen that I somehow own dota 2.

Do you not like them or just never tried them? I'd be surprised if you didn't like at least one of Half-Life 1 + 2 or Portal 1 + 2. These are some of the best games ever made, with broad appeal.

 

[MMaRsu]

I mean it was game of generation according to gaf. Its also hilarious to see how many xbox fanboys get triggered by it.

Nah, it's just annoying as shit, and you calling out 'xbox fanboys' is already showing your own colors.

Fucking childish bullshit.

 

[Field]

Free and controller support. I guess I have no excuse not to finally play it.

 

[Roni]

so PCMR into remasters as well.

Only for free

 

[shaddam]

I am hosting a HL multiplayer server for 2 years now. In the last days something definately happened

 

[Guilty_AI]

 

[Guilty_AI]

so PCMR into remasters as well.

we make our own remasters

 

[Silver Wattle]

Do you not like them or just never tried them? I'd be surprised if you didn't like at least one of Half-Life 1 + 2 or Portal 1 + 2. These are some of the best games ever made, with broad appeal.

I just have no interest in FPS(or MOBA) games.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I just have no interest in FPS(or MOBA) games.

Neither did i until i played Half Life

 

[Sub_Level]

What does 'adds in the uplink demo' mean? Is it now integrated into the full game? Does this mean we can no longer play the game as it originally was? I don't like that if so.

The Uplink level is a separate option when selecting a New Game, similar to the Hazard Course.

Any real reason to play this over the other group remaster ? Black Mesa or whatever.

That shit was amazing.

OG Half Life is one of the best games ever made. Black Mesa is just a really good fanmade version.

 

[MMaRsu]

Played some Hl deathmatch on crossfire, best shit ever

 

[MidGenRefresh]

so PCMR into remasters as well.

Best thing about it? It’s free.

 

[Draugoth]

Starfield? Grow up ffs Draugoth
At least put some Valve games in that comparaison.

i wish, being 5'7 sucks

 

[Buggy Loop]

Best thing about it? It’s free.

Must be mind bending for some peoples who are used to pay for every damn resolution or fps boost.

Even mods are spectacular, this half life 2 mod is free and is better reviewed than 99% of TRUUUPPPLLEEEE AAAAYYYY games out there.

 

[tommycronin]

Even mods are spectacular, this half life 2 mod is free and is better reviewed than 99% of TRUUUPPPLLEEEE AAAAYYYY games out there.

I've never heard of this at all, I'm gonna try it out on steamdeck later. Is it just Half Life 2 or is there any episode 1 and 2 in there?

 

[Buggy Loop]

I've never heard of this at all, I'm gonna try it out on steamdeck later. Is it just Half Life 2 or is there any episode 1 and 2 in there?

It's a full fledged mod that only requires Half Life 2.

 

[tommycronin]

It's a full fledged mod that only requires Half Life 2.

Nice I'll give it a go. There's an Entropy Zero 1 too is that worth playing aswell?

 

[Buggy Loop]

Nice I'll give it a go. There's an Entropy Zero 1 too is that worth playing aswell?

I mean it's "free" and very positive reviews so yea i would say worth it. It's just that the sequel is so good. It's a quick 3 hours so I would say go for it.

 

[tommycronin]

I mean it's "free" and very positive reviews so yea i would say worth it. It's just that the sequel is so good. It's a quick 3 hours so I would say go for it.

I just finished up Black Mesa and while I really liked the whole game a lot, the Interloper chapter at the end solifdied my resolve in waiting atleast a few days actually before I play anything Half Life related again.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Has Starfield become the new metric to rate high player counts against?

It's the most popular game at NeoGAF. Why wouldn't it be the metric?