Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360 could be in the works

by James Ransom-Wiley { May 30th 2006 at 6:25PM }

Recently erected EB Games and Gamestop listings of Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360 have ignited rumors that Valve's acclaimed sequel is again headed to a Microsoft console. Despite a somewhat stripped-down version of the game being released for Xbox last November, an Xbox 360 version would presumably include added features akin to the upcoming PC 'Platinum' edition (also scheduled for February 2007), which is said to contain Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Counter-Strike: Source, and Day of Defeat: Source. In addition, Valve could use the Xbox Live service to deliver the long awaited expansion episodes*, just as we speculated back in April.

In responding to the listings, Valve would not confirm the project, stating, "We've only announced development for 360. No specific titles to reveal just yet, but folks can expect to hear more before the end of this year."

*See: Half-Life 2: Episode 1 set for June release; Half-Life 2: Episodes Two and Three confirmed

Tags: episodic content, EpisodicContent, Half-Life 2, Half-life2, multiplayer, Source, Valve, Xbox Live, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

cyrix_0 @ May 30th 2006 6:32PM

This is the same for the PS3...its on the PS3 Release Dates list too...

http://www.gamersreports.com/news/2755/

and here is the image of it

http://www.gamersreports.com/grimages/1008/1149021490/3/1/gr.image.jpg

This is just Poor News...

Unlike Me @ May 30th 2006 6:38PM

They're including Counter-Strike: Source? I don't know about you guys, but $60 for this alone is worth it. Its fawking fantastic!

Moonraver @ May 30th 2006 6:39PM

Yea I've had this title reserved at a local EB for about a week and a half already for (dare I say it) PS3!

CJ @ May 30th 2006 6:43PM

I'm all about this. Half Life 1 was the reason i got into FPS's, but my ancient computer shutters at the thought of running it. If we also got conterstrike and day of defeat to play on xbox live via marketplace dload or included in box id buy it either way.

Belcho @ May 30th 2006 6:44PM

I just bought the original Xbox version today for $10 at Circuit City. I believe it's on the list of backwards compatible titles for the 360. Usually anything that has a seperate game for the 360 (Burnout, Tomb Raider Legend) are not compatible because they want you to buy the more expensive game. They better not remove it from the list.
And yeah I know that list is a joke anyway. Backwards compatibility is only an issue in the beginning of a consoles life cycle, which we are in.

Zelda Master @ May 30th 2006 6:50PM

If this is true, then this is my birthday gift.
02/05. Yay! Heard so many good things about these games,and I really want to play them. Only PC games I own are Half Life and Starcraft.

Ryan Couldrey @ May 30th 2006 7:07PM

LOL at the tards who preorder games that haven't even been announced by the publisher/developer.

SickNic @ May 30th 2006 7:28PM

As much as I enjoyed half-life 2 and all, I'd rather have valve work on a new IP for the 360. This isn't going to help with the nickname PortBox360.

justin @ May 30th 2006 7:56PM

Damn, Counterstrike AND Day Of Defeat?! if they don't end up on the 360, i'm going to have to check out the PC version for sure.

AndrewNeo @ May 30th 2006 8:02PM

While it probably is fake news, since Valve hasn't actually announced it, HL2 on the 360 would be nice since it'd be able to step up to the proper level of graphics, as well as have multiplayer and stuff.

Endejas @ May 30th 2006 8:06PM

I don't know...Half-Life 2 is a reat game, but I think another port to the 360 is just overkill. HL2 was a PC game, and you get the way better experience by playing it on PC.

Mods are half the fun in this game, and the thing that's keeping it going. Something you can't do on the 360.

epobirs @ May 30th 2006 8:11PM

#9

There are tradeoffs. Using an existing property can be a good way to gain experience on a platform without the pressures associated with an entirely new project.

How many times has an title for a new platform been attractive but severely flawed because the developer didn't have enough know-how on the new machine? Producing the best possible 720p Half-Life 2 will give the coders that necessary experience while the creative guys work on the new episodic material, which in turn will be quickly available for the 360 rather than long after the PC release.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if they included a ultimate version of the original Half-Life using the new engine and including the content created for the never shipped Dreamcast version. (It appeared in a PC expansion later.) There is something to be said for a prefected version of a classic game without the hassles of the PC environment. (Support for USB mice and keyboards wouldn't hurt, either.)

Valve isn't going to drop original content development to do a port but it will help them be more ready when that new content is ripe for embodiment on the console.

james Spiers @ May 30th 2006 8:55PM

The original Xbox game looks pretty good on the 360 via HD, but a little washed out and the framerate stutters at certain points. Having never played the PC version I'm not able to say how it compares, but it is an enthralling experience. I'd like to see it on the Wii -- thinking nunchuck controlled gravity gun antics

Joe @ May 30th 2006 10:36PM

I'm pretty sure Half-Life 2 was a commercial failure. I seem to remember the Valve guys saying it was actually the first commercial failure they'd ever had. Oh well. I don't have a 360, so I guess I'll just have to go right ahead and play Episode One tomorrow. It's a tough life.

Eric D. @ May 31st 2006 12:05AM

I'd be very happy if Valve made Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360! My PC isn't that great, and I found the game more fun on my Xbox anyway. I think an Xbox 360 version, maybe including extras, would be awesome!

Unlike Me @ May 31st 2006 7:38AM

Joe, Half Life 2 was not a failure. Where did you dig that up from? Anti-PC.com? PC-Fanboygeeks.com? Eheh..
Although many believe Half Life 1 was better, almost like every game, the prequel is better, it doesn't mean Half Life 2 sucked. It set the standard for psyhics, and had a great campaign. It had amazing reviews by everyone and got great sales. ''Duhhh, Half-Life 2 sold very well and is many peoples favourite FPS, its a failure!!!11!1!''
How dumb can you get?
If this game is shipped with 1080i, (I don't think the 360 version did) Then I am buying it, for that alone, not to mention the added Episodes, Multiplayer (Counter strike source is worth $60 alone too, this is an amazing multiplayer game) and etc. This is a bargain!

Timmay! @ May 31st 2006 7:50AM

Umm, does anyone remember Kingdom Hearts 2? That game was up for pre-order on the Gamestop website for over 2 years! When I asked my local Gamestop stores about it, they couldn't even verify the game was being made.

NEVER trust a pre-order listing from Gamestop unless there's concrete proof from the publisher that the game is coming out.

dubz @ May 31st 2006 9:22AM

Best news I've heard all day! I can't wait for some CS:S on the 50" plasma....w00t!

el nico @ May 31st 2006 10:18AM

was i the only one who didn't like half-life 2? the physics was great but i found the enemies few and far between. I didn't think they had great A.I either, they'd mostly stand there waiting to be killed.

Geist @ May 31st 2006 12:18PM

Wow. Maybe I'll get it. Oh wait I have it on PC, which appears to run better than most 360 games. Maybe not.

If they do this, they'll really have to put some additional content in-game to entice others, people like me who can run the game in its highest possible settings. And my card is a year and a half old!