Valve have just announced that - at long last - the uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2 is now available for purchase in Australia:

The uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2 is now available to gamers age 18+ in Australia via Steam. In addition, a free update is available for those who already own a censored copy and would like to update to the uncensored version. And to celebrate, for a limited time L4D2 is on sale for 75% off its regular price.

As always head over to Steam to pick it up.

Great to see Valve revisting an older title to help Australians take advantage of the recent changes in legislation that once prevented us from playing the game the way it was meant to be played.

After being served up the toned down German version of Valve's popular zombie co-op shooter Left 4 Dead 2 since its launch, it seems Australian gamers will soon be enjoying the uncensored version thanks to a re-classification.

Dated August 29th on the classification entry, the Australian Classification Board has seemingly passed the original off as all okay to sell, citing it contains "High impact violence, blood and gore." The website listing on states a PC version as being re-classified, and no word on when exactly this new version will be available.

The Australian Classification Board refused to classify the original version of Valve’s co-operative shooter in 2009, barring it for distribution in the region. Valve submitted a heavily censored version that the board awarded with an MA 15+ rating, stating "the element of violence in the game has been sufficiently modified and is now able to be accommodated within the MA15+ classification."

Update: Doug Lombardi of Valve has confirmed the reality of the uncensored version to Kotaku Australia, noting that "We are making plans to deliver that version to those who have already purchased the game. We will announce more details on that soon.”

The Internet Rumour Mill™ is once again churning, with a new screenshot spotted in the wild of what appears to be a Source Engine 2 PowerPoint presentation.

Revealed on NeoGAF by the supposedly reliable "crazy buttocks on a train" leaker (who previously leaked a number of PS4 and Xbox One information), the screenshot not only features the new engine in question, but also demonstrates the graphical prowess with the Plantation level from Left 4 Dead 2 rebuilt in the new tech.

As with any rumour found on the Internet, you should take this one with a grain of salt. Previous evidence has surfaced suggesting that Valve may just be looking into a new engine, though it is hard to tell just when we may see any official announcement on the subject. Maybe one day we will finally get to see Ravenholme again. Check out the screenshots in detail over here.

It's been a while since we've experienced an extended Steam outage, but the popular digital distribution platform appears to be completely offline this morning, presumably due to overwhelming demand for Valve's Christmas day promotion: free Left 4 Dead 2.

Valve has temporarily made Left 4 Dead 2 a free purchase on Steam, however in order to claim it, has instructed players to "install it", prompting a rush on full 7.5GB downloads of the game, when we suspect that merely attaching it to your Steam account for download at a more convenient time might suffice (though please don't take our word for it).

To celebrate the holidays in a special way this year, Left 4 Dead 2 will be free until 10AM PST 12/26.

It will be free as in, grab it now, pay no money, and it is yours to keep forever – FOR FREE!

To claim your L4D2 gift, all you need to do is install it.

If you don’t install, it goes back to its regular price and you miss out! The zombie apocalypse is more fun with friends so make sure to tell all your mates to install it as well.

To help spread the holiday cheer, all current players can earn the achievement – Ghost of Christmas Present – Spread cheer by helping a free holiday player survive a campaign.

At the time of posting, Steam has been down and ruining Christmas for two and a half hours and counting, not a good look for any DRM implementation. The Left 4 Dead 2 promotion is scheduled to wrap up at 5am December 27th Sydney time, but perhaps Valve will adjust or extend the offer on account of the outage.

Update: Steam is now back up, but still appears to be experiencing intermittent timeouts.

According to a forum post early in the new year by Valve Software's Chet Faliszek, the developer is still mindful of the censorship of the Australian version of their zombie shooter Left 4 Dead 2, revealing that they are "exploring the options" since our country's introduction of an R18+ classification, but stopping short of confirming a submission for re-classifaction (thanks GamespotAU):

No need to flood us with emails. We have been exploring the options here and what we can legally do. We will have more information on this when we understand the issues fully and how we are moving forward but don't worry any cost associated with it doesn't worry us, this is something we want to do.

When Left 4 Dead 2 was originally submitted for classification to the then Office of Film and Literature Classification ahead of its 2009 launch, the title was deemed in excess of the maximum MA15+ rating of the time and refused classification. A modified version was then created for the Australian market, removing most of the blood effects and making zombie corpses vanish more rapidly.

Australian's classification legislation permits a game to be submitted for an updated rating after two years, which wouldn't be an issue for Left 4 Dead 2. However, the game was originally published, and submitted for classification by Electronic Arts under their EA Partners label, so it's possible the legalities of that arrangement might complicate things in this instance.

Warner Bros. recently confirmed they are submitting Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition hoping for an R18+ classification after the game's original version was refused classification under the old guidelines --seemingly avoiding the two year requirement by the bundled DLC making it effectively a distinct product-- and Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden: Razor's Edge for Wii U recently became the first videogame to receive the R18+ stamp in Australia.

Celebrating Halloween in cooperative undead slaughtering style, Valve has announced Left 4 Dead 2 will be free to download and play this weekend, commencing tomorrow.

To celebrate Halloween, we are unleashing L4D2 on the world. Starting this Thursday, the entire game will be free to play for the whole weekend. New players can begin pre-loading now. For long time players, it is time to welcome your new found friends and help them survive the zombie apocalypse.

For current players, we created a new achievement. Good Guy Nick - – “Plays games with free weekend players and helps them survive a campaign.” Who is a free weekend player? You’re going to have to talk to each other to find out or you could always let your friends know Left 4 Dead 2 is going to be free this weekend and have them join you. Spread the word! It’s the zombie apocalypse, bring friends.

Curious players that don't already own the game can start pre-loading from in anticipation with this link.

The promotion commences on October 5th PDT (exact time uncertain), and winds up on October 29th 10am PDT, which equates to a local Sydney start time sometime after 6pm AEDT Friday, and finishing at 4am AEDT Tuesday.

Like a bunch of other Valve products, it has been in "beta" for quite some time now, but the official Left 4 Dead blog has now revealed that the Cold Stream DLC for Left 4 Dead 2 will be officially released on July 24th 2012.

The launch date applies to both PC and Xbox 360 versions of L4D2 and comprises of the Cold Stream campaign as well as Blood Harvest, Crash Course, Cold Stream, Dead Air, and Death Toll. The blog promises some "other surprises and details" and explains that a patch update that will coincide with the launch also opens up access to all mutations at all times

The Left 4 Dead guys out at Valve have been holding off on a desire to release new DLC because of a few constraints, one major one being a gaping hole in what they already had on the table - there just wasn't enough.

That is until modder Matthew "2 Evil Eyes" Lourdelet showed them Cold Stream, his new community campaign mod that still isn't quite finished.

We loved 2 Evil Eyes and Cold Stream looks even more promising with innovative game play arenas and effects. Matthew has really shown that there are still plenty of new ideas in L4D2 modding.

We want you the community to be part of the process of taking his unfinished campaign and releasing it as DLC on the Xbox 360, PC and Mac.

You can read the full run-down of plans right here on the official forums, but this shows just how important community and the mod-community still are to Valve products. For those who can't be bothered hitting the link, you won't be seeing this DLC release still until at least after Portal 2 drops, and as always, even after that it'll be a case of "when it's done".

An in-development community campaign (by Matthew Lourdelet) is set to be released as DLC for L4D2 (PC, Mac, X360). Unlike the previous two DLC packs for L4D2, Cold Stream will not be story-heavy. The three campaigns from L4D1 will also be included in the pack.

No solid release date, aside from "sometime after Portal 2". The community is also invited to help test the community campaign.

"He recently shared it with us and we love it so far but it isn’t done. We were tempted to have him quietly finish it with our help and release it as part of an upcoming DLC.

Tempted… but we decided against that. Instead, we think we have a better idea. We want you the community to be part of the process of taking his unfinished campaign and releasing it as DLC on the Xbox 360, PC and Mac."

"In the next few weeks we will add Cold Stream to the UI (user interface) and we will all begin testing it. As we receive feedback and test data we will also share some data we collect on player experience and show how we put that data to use. We will include you with regular posts, polls, and updates.

We have created a special forum just for feedback on the campaign and this project (Cold Stream Forum). While the beta will only be available for PC and Mac users, we appreciate feedback and ideas from the entire community. This is an experiment for us, so please let us know what you think and what you would like to see in the DLC – just remember the constraints."

From the official L4D blog. promoted forum item

The Left 4 Dead blog has revealed a new game mode for Left 4 Dead 2 in the form of Versus Survival.

The basic run-down is pretty simple - one team of four works a survival map, fending off the undead to set a benchmark time, then a second team comes in and tries to beat that time. This goes on until one team can't one-up the other allowing for full declaration of a winner.

It's a pretty neat idea that sits well within the Left 4 Dead framework Valve have created. Let us know how it plays once you've checked it out.

Valve have revealed their much loved zombie infested co-op romp, Left 4 Dead, will be earning itself a new campaign which will bridge the narrative gap between L4D and L4D2. What's even more impressive is that this new DLC called "The Sacrifice" will be made available for both games (so you only need to have one of them to play it).

L4D2 owners will also get "No Mercy" from the original game, while the whole thing will be prefaced with a 190 page comic that will lead up to the events that transpire in The Sacrifice. The content will be made available from October 5th which coincides with Left 4 Dead 2 releasing for Mac, and will be free for Mac and PC users, but will cost Xbox 360 owners a handful of MS Points.

Stay tuned for more once we have it.

As promised, The Passing DLC for Left 4 Dead 2 is now out and available for download - simply bounce your Steam to get the latest updated. For those that missed the earlier coverage, you can see it all on our Left 4 Dead 2 news page.

To promote the release, Left 4 Dead 2 is now 30% off on the Steam store (US$20.09 total or $60.29 for a four pack), so if you've been waiting for a price drop, now's a good time to buy.

A trailer showing off The Passing DLC that is about to land for Left 4 Dead 2 has been released by Valve; you can watch the trailer right now, streamin' live from AusGamers. The trailer - which is a bit of a snore, just showing a tiny segment of cinematic with a couple characters having a chat - ends with the phrase 'Get it now!', but the DLC is still apparently on track for a .au Friday release.

A promotional poster for the game has also been released - a 26mb JPG measuring 7200x10800 pixels. We made it a bit more palatable. You might also be interested in checking out this forum post where TiT has revealed some more information about the new Mutations mode that will be on offer.

Valve have officially confirmed that the first major update for Left 4 Dead 2 - titled, as in the way of this new-fangled DLC, "The Passing" - will be landing on on Thursday, April 22, US time, so Aussies should see it Friday. The release also contains word of the new features, hinted at yesterday:

The Passing also introduces a series of weekly game mode events dubbed "Mutations." These week-long runs of new gameplay modes range from "Realism Versus" mode to "Chainsaw Massacre," which gives all players chainsaws with an unlimited supply of gasoline. There are over 20 Mutations planned, each playable on all L4D2 Campaigns. Mutations are exclusively available to owners of "The Passing" DLC.

In addition, "The Passing" offers a new co-operative challenge mode of play, support for infected bot play in Versus, a new "uncommon common" zombie class (the fallen survivor), melee weapon (golf club), and firearm (M-60).

This'll cost you 560 Microsoft points if you're picking it up on Xbox 360 or AUD$0.00 if you're getting it on PC. Don't forget to check out our buy page for our pricing list if you still haven't got it!@#

The official Left 4 Dead 2 blog is carrying word of the new achievements that are soon to land when "The Passing" DLC lands later this week. There's also an intriguing hint about some cool new stuff, but more details are still forthcoming:

And of course, we saved the best for last: the "Mutant Overlord" achievement, which you can only get by playing six Mutations.

Right about now you might be asking yourself, "What in the hell is a Mutation?" "Why do I have to play six of them?" "Are there more than six?" "Where's that smell coming from?" All good questions. Look for most of the answers in our Wednesday blog post.

As always, more information about this title is on our Left 4 Dead 2 game page.

From a news update on Steam:

Coming out this Spring for Left 4 Dead 2 is the brand new DLC "The Passing", which contains:

A Wicked Witch Bride!
A Gargantuan M60!
A Slashing Golf Club!
And Introducing The Fallen Survivor!
Meet 3 Left 4 Dead 1 Survivors!
New Game Modes!


Was that a typo? Game Modes? Didn't we mean Game MODE? Did we mean to include that "S"?!?!?

YES WE DID!

Also of note: Left 4 Dead 2 is 50% off (down to $24.99 USD) on Steam until Thursday! promoted/edited forum item

I got all excited about an update to my favourite game right now... Until I read the (lack of) changes.

Gameplay

* Fixed where last round of upgraded ammo didn't have upgrade effect
* Jockeyed survivor now glows for infected team in all cases
* Fixed exploit that allowed Jockey players to get instant recharge of their ability
* Fixed Charger ability timer not resetting when killing a survivor with low health on their third strike
* Charger now applies a small amount of damage when charging through physic props

Match Making

* Changed how requests are made to master server for group servers
* Fixed sorting on group servers UI
* Reduced update work on group servers UI

Source. It is obvious to me that Valve are actually yet to play L4D2. There are some fairly massive bugs in Versus and Scavenge mode yet to be fixed. Hurry up. Some bugs I swear they fixed in the original have reappeared in the sequel like the slow loading team swap issue that some people get.

promoted forum item

Valve today announced DLC for Left 4 Dead 2 would be arriving in the early part of 2010, and will bring the original survivors from Left 4 Dead down south to meet up with the newest cast of zombie fighters.

"The Passing will become the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign," explained Valve VP of marketing guru, Doug Lombardi, by way of the official press release. "It will also be a huge offering of new gameplay content, with something new for every game mode plus a new uncommon common and weaponry."

The content will also feature new arenas for Versus, Scavenge and Survival as well as a new co-op challenge mode and introduce an entirely new zombie class, all alongside the new single-player and co-op additions to narrative.

Currently "early 2010" is as close to a release date as we have.

Valve have announced this morning that Left 4 Dead 2 has sold two million copies two weeks after launch:

Released just two weeks ago, over 2 million retails copies of L4D2 have been sold worldwide and the game appears to be on target to become one of the top selling Xbox and PC titles for the month of November. Sales to date are more than double the original title, which was released exactly one year prior to L4D2. And "Black Friday" promotions during the title's second week of availability in North American resulted in stronger than expected sales in L4D2's bid to become one of this year's best selling releases on both platforms.

The article goes on to mention that around one million people are playing on Xbox Live and that news on the first round of downloadable content "is coming very soon".

It's a bit of a Left 4 Dead 2 celebration around here, but in the spirit of a New Orleans mardi-gras, we figure why not. So, after asking Valve to comment on all the community issues with the announcement of Left 4 Dead 2, we thought some hands-on time was the next best step and so yours truly sat in front of one of Valve's stunning monitors, fired up the mouse and got ready to slam a chainsaw clear through a zombie's head.

For our full impressions of the game click this link. Of course for more information and links to various media and editorial, check out our game page.