Valve opening Xbox 360 spigot

Legendary PC developer announces Xbox Live-enabled "future games" are in development for the next-gen console.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Valve Software showed tepid support for consoles. Development of the PlayStation 2 port of the studio's groundbreaking shooter Half-Life was outsourced to Gearbox Software, which shipped it in 2001. Two years later, Valve released a self-developed, tepidly reviewed, and essentially straight port of Counter-Strike for the Xbox, which enjoyed some success on Xbox Live.

However, the story changed with the Xbox version of Valve's award-winning and wildly popular Half-Life 2. Critics largely applauded the effort, criticizing only the game's lack of online play.

Today, Valve revealed that its next console game won't have that same shortcoming. The shop announced it is developing multiple games for the Xbox 360, and that all would support "integration with the Xbox Live online game service." The games will use a "customized version" of Valve's proprietary Source game engine.

While praising the platform, Valve CEO Gabe Newell was coy about the details of his company's Xbox 360 projects. He did, however, hint they may be outside Valve's traditional first-person shooter focus. "Whether developing a traditional FPS, RTS [real-time strategy game], RPG [role-playing game] or delving into new genres, the Xbox 360 is a great platform for expanding Source and our game experiences," he said in a statement.

Valve now joins the ranks of a growing legion of PC-centric developers announcing Xbox 360 support. Besides Epic Games, which is readying Gears of War for the console, Doom developer id Software has also announced it is working on an all-new Castle Wolfenstein game for the platform.

88 Comments

  • falconLP21

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    will they please make cs:s for the 360? damn i want to play counter-strike on xbox live like i did with the origanal xbox. Although, i hope they upgrade the graphics since it is the 360.

  • TeMpLaR0

    Posted Sep 24, 2006 4:35 am PT

    I dont how they will put HL2, HL2E1, HL2E2, Portals, and team fortress2 on 1 disc 4 the 360 will there be multiple discs. but the ps3's blu ray disc will fit it but i hate the PS3, sony should stop copying other companys ideas and get there own. VIVA DA 360

  • i3izarre

    Posted Jul 10, 2006 10:44 pm PT

    hope there going to put all the half life episodes 1 2 and 3 for the xbox 360
    anyways valve is the only company i but the most games cuz there mostly fun

  • msxmsx

    Posted Jul 6, 2006 7:57 am PT

    Hope they bring cs:s and dod to 360

  • mmdogg723

    Posted Jul 1, 2006 9:39 pm PT

    screw hl2. i hope they either make a new game or a counter strike game

  • Hoopin4thelove

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 10:22 am PT

    a nother reason 2 see that x360 is going 2 smash..............crapS3 i think im getting a x360

  • pyth0n13

    Posted May 11, 2006 5:48 am PT

    yay i love valve

  • RoboticZombie

    Posted May 4, 2006 12:14 pm PT

    one more reason to get the 360, that is if they decide to port half life 2 to the 360.

  • javeto

    Posted Apr 29, 2006 5:52 pm PT

    This is good for gamers, MS is making it easy to developers to make their games . for me I'm a happy 360 owner

  • stevenj05

    Posted Apr 28, 2006 6:41 am PT

    bring day of defeat to the xbox 360!!!!!!!

  • rootATdarkstar

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 10:13 pm PT

    It will be nice seeing Valve do an actual console game; until now all we've had is Valve ports of PC games. GO ORIGINALITY!!!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 10:27 am PT

    Great news for 360 owners
    But where is teh P$-3?

  • Kfoss

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 10:06 am PT

    awesome hope they bring the expansion packs of half-life to the 360 along with everything else

  • DrKill09

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 8:12 am PT

    Hopefully the new games are not just crappy ports like Half Life on PS2 (awful load times), or HL2 on XBox (awful graphics. Should've been ported to 360 instead)

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 5:33 am PT

    booo......hopefully they will decide to release on PC first, then port to 360.

  • Rtisan

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 4:35 am PT

    Way to go Valve...

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 11:28 pm PT

    The Half Life 2 & Doom3 Engines still look great. If you say they look dated then you haven't seen them turned all the way up.

  • GoddBless

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 11:15 pm PT

    The SONY fanboys are really starting to get nervous now. Don't worry though the hype machine should be in full effect come E3. Maybe they will finally announce the release date for FNR3. Back on topic I can't wait to see what Valve has planned for the 360. Everyday I own my 360 I feel more and more like it was money well spent.

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 9:56 pm PT

    $60 games and pay to play online. How much extra do I need to pay in order to play this game too?

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 9:10 pm PT

    "So, to settle the age old question, PC or Console, the obvious answer is that they both have pros and cons. Because one person prefers one over the other doesn't make him/her right or wrong.

    So I say to all fanboys, back off with the platform fanboyisms. Most intelligent folk don't care about your over-heated oppinions."

    Your not settling anything by saying that. In fact, what your saying isnt intelligent at all. You see, its not related to fanboyism or preferences. Simply put, an analog stick just doesnt give the same quick precision that the mouse does (with an analog, you indirectly control the crosshair to the point which u want to shoot, with a mouse, its a direct control over your crosshair, so you point and click). The hardcore FPS players dont stick to PC because their fanboys, but because the mouse and keyboard are just far more precise, period. If you think otherwise, I challenge you to play Counterstrike on xbl now, and then immediately after on your PC. Even if you suck at FPS', you'll quickly notice your much improved aim, as well as, on average, a better kill/deaths ratio when you play it on the PC.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 7:17 pm PT

    Ugh. It will probably end up being just more shooters.

  • smbius

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:56 pm PT

    I want to see games specific for PC or 360. I don't want any damn ports. I love the PC and 360. Just team up with Ubisoft to make GRAW 2 or do an original game. Make HL3 already and close the series.

    Xanog1, PC devs just have a shorter learning curve developing for 360...that's all. PC game development is still a lucrative business since you don't have to worry about royalties for console developers.

  • Xanog1

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    Wow, why does it seem like many PC devs are going to Xbox 360 now? Do they not like their fanbases or something?

  • GameonDerek

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    This is great news!! I can't wait to get my hands on half-life 3 on the 360!!

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    good

  • KazelGehMidiah

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    Valve is the best PC developer out there bar none!

  • damned_beast

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:25 pm PT

    i hope its an amazing game they make!!

  • mkdc

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    Counter strike on Xbox 360 and support for keyboard and mouse.

    PS3 allows Keyboard and Mous!!!!!!!!!

  • jrett

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:03 pm PT

    Imavnas,

    I just can't get comfortable on my couch with a mouse and keyboard. I have now, and have had for many years pc's. I used to play games on my pc. But, like i said, the whole keyboard and mouse thing is just clunky on a couch. Can't beat the wireless controller of the x360. Also, having to work with computers all day long, that is the last place I look for entertainment.

    So, to settle the age old question, PC or Console, the obvious answer is that they both have pros and cons. Because one person prefers one over the other doesn't make him/her right or wrong.

    So I say to all fanboys, back off with the platform fanboyisms. Most intelligent folk don't care about your over-heated oppinions.

  • thatguytony

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    It's really good to see that the 360 is getting alot of third party support. Hopefully we'll also see more developers bringing their exclusives over to the 360. If Microsoft can score franchises like Final Fantasy (not just the online one), Tekken, Devil May Cry and Virtua Fighter it will really help them in Japan.

  • jrett

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    My egg salad is getting slippery.

  • jamil2nice

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    a sad day indeed

  • Poltergeist13

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:49 pm PT

    Too many games for 360 by some great developers on the way, I almost can't take it. Somebody get me a brown bag!!!

  • Tomtomtom1990

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    Hello, Half-Life Episode One!

  • dru26

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    i would love to see a remake of half Life 2, first.

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:21 pm PT

    "wow, look at the pc people cry. Lemme see. sit hunched over in front of 20" $1500 monitor, or play in my heated vibrating chair, on my $1200 hd projector, throwing a 81" picture???? Everyone owns a tv. Not everyone owns a pc significant enough to run hl2 or oblivion..."

    Like others before me have stated, the pricing for a good computer is widely lauded as exagerrated when in fact it is not. With the amount of cash you spend on a 360 and the accompanying downloads and game prices, you could easily get yourself a computer that could play both HL2 AND Oblivion. True, it wont be really high end, but itll be decent enough that the differences between 360 graphics and framerate and the PC's graphics and framerates are minimal. And by the way, your living in the last decade if your still playing your PC games on a monitor. Most middle to high end tv's can hook up to your computer just the same saw they hook up to your 360.

    Besides, FPS's on consoles, save for Halo maybe, have yet to be groundbreaking. The mouse and keyboard combo is as of yet irreplacable for the hardcore FPS fans.

  • smviel

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    the 360 is a winner...hands down...prepare for E3, I think we'll be blown away w/ all the annoucements made! Can't wait...

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    Great news!!!

    Love to see what they come up with.

  • xbox_gamer1

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    Just call it quits sony.

  • madgamer2000

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    they make good games. with all their normal delays though, it may be time for ps6 by the time the 1st xbox360 game is ready...

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    Nice to see more games coming for the 360 as much as I want to hear more for the PS3 I own the 360 and the more there are of games the happier I will be.

  • KillerFPS

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    As long as Valve gives us Half-Life 3 (and/or these episodes) on Xbox 360 I'll be happy.

  • coderedfilm

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:31 pm PT

    wow, look at the pc people cry. Lemme see. sit hunched over in front of 20" $1500 monitor, or play in my heated vibrating chair, on my $1200 hd projector, throwing a 81" picture???? Everyone owns a tv. Not everyone owns a pc significant enough to run hl2 or oblivion...

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    Just as a FYI...you can plug in any USB keyboard to a 360 use it. Mouse support is lacking.

    I agree though, if I wanted a keyboard and mouse I'd be using my PC.

    The real trend people are starting to realize though...which developers already know...make a PC game get a free port to 360.

    Or have a dedicated PS3 development team.

    Actually it's a bit worse...some developers are sticking with the PS2 platform for the next round or two of titles because of logistics. Why develope a PS3 launch title which may sell a couple million at best when you can spit out a PS2 title in a known enviroment and have an installed customer base of 100 Million.

    It's a matter of business and their business is sales.

  • doomsoth

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:22 pm PT

    Valve is a great developer...so, I know the games will do well. They have been quite opposed with working in the console area, but shifting gears can have its benifits.

  • amirkalloe

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:18 pm PT

    good news

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:14 pm PT

    EVIL! EVIL! VALVE! YOUR SHIFTING FROM HARDCORE PC GAMER AUDIENCE TO N00bSAUCE AUDIENCE!

  • evilbanshee

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    Sorry but it's not going to be HL3 since they mentioned they're using the Source engine. And knowing Valve, they'd never be able to release HL3 within the 360's lifetime.

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:09 pm PT

    Nice. I have only played the demo for HL2 and that 2D game, but I'll probably pick up HL3 or whatever game it is. I'm expecting and even more "War of the Worlds" experience on the Xbox 360

  • SP8616

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 1:07 pm PT

    excellent news, can't wait!

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