Valve purchases Turtle Rock Studios

Half-Life 2 creator adds Orange County-based developer of Left 4 Dead to further Southern California, console market expansion.

Whether or not Half-Life 2's headcrab-infested humans constitute zombies is a question not likely to be settled any time soon. However, Half-Life developer Valve has eliminated any question of its zombie credentials today with the announcement that it is acquiring Left 4 Dead developers Turtle Rock Studios. As part of the deal, Turtle Rock will remain at its Orange County location, which Valve plans to use as a base for further expansion in the Los Angeles area and the console market.

"We have been seeing very strong growth with Steam and Source, our content distribution and development platforms, up over 150 percent over the last 12 months," said Valve president Gabe Newell. "Given our expectations for Left 4 Dead and our long-standing relationships with members of the Turtle Rock team, this was an easy decision."

Even before this deal, Turtle Rock had extensive ties to Valve. The studio was responsible for the Xbox port of the original Counter-Strike, and Valve tapped the developer for Counter-Strike: Condition Zero for the PC, as well as a number of maps for Counter-Strike: Source.

Turtle Rock's current project, Left 4 Dead, is built upon the latest version of Valve's Source game engine. Set in modern-day America, the multiplayer-focused survival horror action game heavily relies on cooperative gameplay; players join up in cells of four to fend off hordes of virus-infected zombies. Left 4 Dead also features online cooperative as well as competitive play, where players can voluntarily rot their brains to join the infected legions.

Left 4 Dead is currently expected to shamble to retail for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2008. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

67 Comments

  • Baloth2025

    Posted Mar 20, 2008 10:43 am PT

    I would say that was a good buy on their part, now a good game can get even better

  • BossMass

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 10:01 pm PT

    Me and my friends have been waiting for this game for a long time, and after watching the gameplay trailers i say, take there time, the game already looks like it could be the next big hit and remain the top survival horror game for a very long time, so lets have a little patience.

  • Heretic_Zero

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 10:46 pm PT

    When it comes to games like this, I appreciate when developers take their time. When was the last time any of you played a multi-player survival horror that you truly enjoyed, or that at least really pushed the boundaries of playing such a scenario in a video game?

  • Teebown24

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 7:44 pm PT

    TMontana, i predict you will be biting those words sometime later this year or early next, but we will have to wait and see.

  • TMontana1004

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 7:48 pm PT

    *Sigh* This game will never come

  • Lone_Wolff

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 3:50 pm PT

    Thank God, this means that Valve will finally have some input on this game. Hopefully they'll take this game up much like they did with the prototype of Portal and make it even better.

  • ZeRo2545

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 5:57 pm PT

    How disappointing. I was already pissed off that they bumped release to Q2, 2008... but now Q4 2008? Another Duke Nukem Forever on the way.

  • micta

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 6:04 am PT

    I cant wait! No more wondering around the non-South African zombie mod servers where I get 200-100 ping!

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 6:25 am PT

    valve should have sponsored the black mesa project and included that remake into the orange box so that all those console fools new what half life was.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 6:24 am PT

    is left for dead ever coming out?

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Jan 13, 2008 11:35 pm PT

    beckoflight, that may be true but what about the developers of black mesa, the developers of a ground up remake of half life

  • Telekenesis123

    Posted Jan 13, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    blarg_blarg, looks like you got cake.

  • blarg_blarg

    Posted Jan 13, 2008 5:49 pm PT

    Thats great! I can't wait for Left 4 dead but it is even better it is owned by valve!

  • raze-boi

    Posted Jan 13, 2008 5:11 am PT

    Valve always makes smart moves.

  • beckoflight

    Posted Jan 12, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    By the way i get the feeling that Valve will buy next ARKANE studios the guys behind Dark Messiah & now working togheter with Valve on The crossing !

  • Splicer007

    Posted Jan 12, 2008 5:33 am PT

    left 4 dead looks like it will be an awesome zombie game!

  • Craft2299

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 4:04 pm PT

    Ive been waiting for this game a long time now i see the progress is going great even better! I know this game will not dissapoint me! everyones gona be like "OH SH**"

  • TheC0m1ssar

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 3:48 pm PT

    L4D is going to be awesome. Just the plain idea of a co-op zombie survival game makes me hyped.

    Cross-platform play would be nice, but that'll take a while to get all the bugs out, but still hoping for it.

  • alexandregiroux

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 12:49 pm PT

    Great!
    I'm getting more and more interested in that game.

  • beckoflight

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 8:32 am PT

    O yeah evan better news from the most critical aclaimed studio on earth !!! ...i really whant to se how they mix this multyplayer with the HL universe WOHOOO .... think about how cool they introduced PORTAL in to the HL universe .... Valve's ppl .......you have all my respect you are all briliant !

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 6:52 am PT

    Left 4 Dead is gonna be awesome.

  • Reptile1992

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 6:45 am PT

    I'm gonna love L4D. I want it now!

  • Raekesh

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 5:23 am PT

    Yay, this will be great for this game! I agree, Valve+Zombies=Awesomeness

  • ratempa

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 5:01 am PT

    Well, aren't the headcrab guys in HL kinda like zombies? I'm excited to see improvement in their headcrab infected guys.

  • KingKoop

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 2:31 am PT

    Sorry..... I just seen Left 4 Dead and got excited.....

  • Slashgibber

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 12:01 am PT

    Woooooooooooot!!!! Valve+Zombies=Awsome

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 9:58 pm PT

    all i can say is u impress valve they buy u or offer u a job then leave your ideas alone to be developed into something fantastic, and give you massive recourses.

  • VGLeo34

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 9:14 pm PT

    not a bit surprised, hell, i thought valve already owned them

  • phalluman

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 8:26 pm PT

    right on, the game is destined for fame now

  • azizrulez

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 7:37 pm PT

    one thing is for sure now,the left 4 dead is not going to lack any polish,and its going to b play-tested heavily,so hopefully we shouldnt have any bugs

  • cementface9

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 6:52 pm PT

    "i hope it comes out on the 360"

    LAWLSAUCE

    "Left 4 Dead is currently expected to shamble to retail for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2008. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. "

    Read the article next time lolzy.

  • Aim

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 6:03 pm PT

    ""i hope it comes out on the 360"

    Don't hold your breath. Turtle rock has only done PC games in the past. Still this game is going to rock. Can't wait for it."

    LMAO... It's coming out for the xbox 360. Look it up.

  • satchell78

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    i have seen stodios make the transition to console, some better then outhers.

  • Karjah

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 5:27 pm PT

    "i hope it comes out on the 360"

    Don't hold your breath. Turtle rock has only done PC games in the past. Still this game is going to rock. Can't wait for it.

  • duke-nukem11

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 5:19 pm PT

    cant wait for this game. zombies+counter strike=F'n good idea

  • Telekenesis123

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    See Valve can see a good thing when they see it, just like us hey guys? Left4Dead's going to be awesome.

  • JoseElite360

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 4:10 pm PT

    i hope it comes out on the 360

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 3:28 pm PT

    When Crysis sells less then 100k, it'd be stupid not to put a game like Left 4 Dead on the 360. *Waits for inevitable crappy belated PS3 port* Remind me why Valve hates Sony so much?...

  • SilentCard

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:49 pm PT

    I agree with grahamo1. This merge will bring nothing but more amazing games and lots of fun.

  • unclejohn0525

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    I'm gonna try Left 4 Dead on PC.

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:31 pm PT

    EH....it's to be expected

  • shadow9669

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    very true Grahamo1

  • grahamo1

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    if valve buys someone out it can only be for the good of computer gaming worldwide

  • haesuse

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    is it me, or is everyone badnwaggoning on buying up little studios. Nikalai, i absolutely agree that they have pretty shoddy track record and i am not expecting anything much out of this deal, at least any time soon.

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    Valve is just one of the very few great gaming companies in this world, anything they set their minds (or eyes) on deserves respect.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    I can't wait for L4D should be a fun PC game ... not so much on the xbox since mod communities cant really exist on XBL .... closest thing they have is that halo3 map editor ... all you can do is place some objects, guns, vehicles .... nothing spectacular at all. That is where this game is gonna shine, Player created content.

  • Nikalai_88

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:08 pm PT

    Uh, their track record is not very impressive.

  • gin_rummy89

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    Left 4 Dead looks Terrifying

  • xmg0

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 12:39 pm PT

    this is coming out on 360? cool.

  • dn3datomiced

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 12:37 pm PT

    Valve is a force for good in the gaming world. When they buy up another studio, nothing changes about that studio except their better access to Valve and their tools, and that's a great way to do things.

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