Valve offers Source for 360

Version of Half-Life 2 engine optimized for Microsoft's console now available as developer middleware.

Middleware solutions are becoming increasingly common as developers look to mitigate the costs of next-gen game creation. Epic Games' Unreal engine (Gears of War, Turok) and Emergent's Gamebryo Element (The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion) are a pair of popular engines currently being licensed out for use on the Xbox 360, but it looks like they're in for some new competition on the platform.

Today Valve Software announced that the Xbox 360 version of its Source engine is being offered to developers. The Source engine debuted with Valve's own Half-Life 2 and has since been licensed for use in PC games like Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and SiN Episodes: Emergence.

Half-Life 2 is scheduled to be released on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the first quarter of 2007, in a package that also includes the series' first two episodic content installments, as well as a pair of new games, Portal and Team Fortress 2.

[UPDATE] When asked if Valve was preparing to make the Source engine available as PS3 middleware, a representative of the company told GameSpot, "We're not currently working with Sony on PS3 middleware." While Valve is developing the Xbox 360 version of Half-Life 2 internally, is co-developing the PS3 version with an Electronic Arts studio.

179 Comments

  • Kruegmeister

    Posted Feb 8, 2007 9:56 am PT

    @ PackersRock.

    I don't think not having the Source as Middleware will make the PS3 Lose.
    There are much better engines than the Source Engine.

  • PackersRock

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 10:18 am PT

    I'm not trolling, but this is why the ps3 will lose.

  • Cheeseybeats

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 11:11 am PT

    EA can eat my bum!

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 9:21 am PT

    i like the source engine, no other current game that is out has the animation capability of that engine, the character models look phenominal and the animations add to the lifelike qualities. i really like that source engine, and it gets new goodies every couple of months like HDRL and stuff. i like that valve is progressively working on that engine, rather than pumping out old liking titles like they did with half life 1. hopefully they won't wiat to long before begining developement on a new engine. for a full sequel. or maybe if they turn half life into a full on episodic only franchise, i'd like to see a new, or more greatly improved engine after the third episode.

  • 2TrickedOut

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 2:17 am PT

    The 360 is doing great lol I hope Valve never offers there middleware source engine to the ps3 even though I am going to own one. lol

  • lextexrex

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    We need more people like nappan in these boards.

  • FrostElf

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    nice, now I don't need a new comp *cheers*

  • Fauij

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    nice...cant wait for CS:S and DoD

  • JEEBUS_BOGONDO

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 11:04 am PT

    cool. did anyone else notice that half life 2 from the original xbox plays like crap pn the 360?

  • 198d

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 11:47 pm PT

    DoD and CS:S on 360....i cant wait

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:38 pm PT

    Oh Jesus God if they make Counterstrike playable on the 360 I will wet myself!

  • krumble

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:32 pm PT

    If Valve makes more money means more original games from them. So I'm all for this.

  • pathogenb

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:07 pm PT

    HL2 and the Source engine were optimized for ATI chips. this only makes sense.

  • childe_roland

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    This is great news but I've still got my fingers crossed for Counter Strike Source and Day of Defeat...

  • ADDchild63

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    What about CS:S?

  • judge__judy

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    Wow cool, is the source engine still that impressive. I wouldn't know because I played half life 2 on a pentium 4 with a crud radeon x300 card.

  • Shuiken_Blade

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:38 am PT

    w00t

  • UbAdm

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 5:07 am PT

    JimHartley, Red Orchestra doesn't use the Source engine, it uses the Unreal engine.

  • blind59

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 12:25 am PT

    Everyday I want more the PS3.......

  • fortiliano

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 10:18 pm PT

    Everyday I want less the PS3........

  • N00bl3t15

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    LOL did i hear someone say "source is far from pollished?"!!!!!!!!!!
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • jmahartley

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 6:49 pm PT

    This can only be good news for Valve and M$... Plus what if TripWire reworks RO and puts it on the 360..... RO and Portal OMG!!!

  • lavatruck

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 6:28 pm PT

    hopefully the servers wont suck like all the other Ea ones

  • nappan

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    Usual fanboy c**p aside, I'm happy that both of the "big" consoles as well as the Wii are looking good. I'd kill for a truly competative 3-way console environment for this generation. If the games are good I'll get all three consoles and use my PC... more games more games more GOOD games... is the key. It's all that matters. Valve getting involved in the 360 as well as sony is the best possible outcome for future projects... that said, I can't imagine playing HL2 on a console!

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    While Valve is developing the Xbox 360 version of Half-Life 2 internally, is co-developing the PS3 version with an Electronic Arts studio.

    Correction: it should say:

    While Valve is developing the Xbox 360 version of Half-Life 2 internally, Valve is co-developing the PS3 version with an Electronic Arts studio.

  • Xrm150

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    Can't wait to get my hands on the games!

  • jackle2071

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 5:21 pm PT

    im am quite shore that some day valve will come around and let the PS3 have the sorce engine. but if not sony does not need to sorce engine im shore some copany like say hmmm crytek will come out with a onpar or even better engine!

  • Tactician

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    He he he.. .sweet. Valve's engine is a welcome addition. It is also telling that they are holding back on the ps3. It all adds up..

  • inYuashiaZero

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:57 pm PT

    hell i would get it just for portal yea.

  • CybertronR

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:51 pm PT

    yay comments

  • mojahid_1st

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:34 pm PT

    I can't wait for portal! if you have'nt seen the trailer yet you have to check it out! looks awesome!!!

  • gellis1981

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    This is completely working towards MS plans of multi-crossing platforms explain by Mr. Gates at E3 this year...where 360 players will be able to play with/against windows{PC} players. XBL will interlace with windows vista.

  • aygol

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    Sweet!!
    Who cares about Sony anymore???

  • tundraman

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:28 pm PT

    Sweet. Day of defeat and red orchestra for the 360 ^ _ ^..... someday.

  • over_18

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    sony might have a better system but microsoft still all the connects hahha

  • crazy_boy166

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    who cares about sony

  • gatesofoblivion

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    best bundle eva?

  • FearNinja

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    It seems as though no one cares about Sony anymore. haha.

  • Berfomek_666

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    pretty cool, but the pc version will still be the best!

  • mike-oxbig

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:22 pm PT

    HL2 + EP1 + EP2 + TF2 + PORTAL?? On 1 disk?? What a sweet deal! i got HL2 on the first xbox, and it was ok but it sure was f-ugly, i'd like to relive it all on the 360 in HD!

  • plasmic7

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    kewl

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    I love Valve

  • BranKetra

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    Good to know that companies are finally going to begin developing multiplatform games with work that utilizes the capabilities for each system, rather than the "Assasin's Creed effect".

  • fffreak1

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    this is really good, i think half-life will be amazing on the 360.

  • oosoup2

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 1:14 pm PT

    depends would CS:S be inlcuded any where along the lines?

  • Rockin_MixMasta

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    You're obviously insane, falcon642. I run a 3ghz 1gig of RDRAM and Radeon 9800 XT and my load times are FINE. It takes me about 5-10 seconds to quicksave. And the initial loading of a game is not much longer than that.

    a) 360 does not need more FPS games
    b) No mods = Big problem
    c) No CS:S or DoD:S = OWNED!

  • ulrikz

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:41 pm PT

    I think the engine is good and all, but is it really that console friendly? Hmm, and I wonder on how advanced one can go with graphics on the engine.

  • LessThanMike

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:14 pm PT

    Wow, portal looks pretty sweet...

  • falcon642

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:13 pm PT

    I hesitate to think what the loading times for HL2 are going to be like on the 360. I played HL2 on a 3Ghz computer with 1.5Gb of RAM and the loading in that game was almost unbearable at times.

    HL2 on the 360 could make Oblivion seem like a smooth running game. (Not a dig at Oblivion as I loved that game and dropped 130hrs into it.)

  • defogger

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:04 pm PT

    Well the graphics for Half Life 2 will be improved or equal to the high-end PC versions. It might be good to revisit Half-life 2 on the 360 with out having to worry about the stresses of a PC. And the new content MIGHT be worth checking out.

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

The Orange Box Boxshot
The Orange Box

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    536 of 59,170
    (down by 3)
    X360 Rank:
    108 of 1,499
    Tracking:
    10,072 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    4,422 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    3,550
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player, 16 Online Online Modes: Team Oriented

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. portal
    2. team fortress 2
    3. orange box
    4. the orange box
    5. half-life 2
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs