Left 4 Dead 1 may no longer have a reason to exist.

Valve has announced today that the last three campaigns, Blood Harvest, Dead Air and Death Toll are coming to Left 4 Dead 2, along with a new campaign called Cold Stream. Cold Stream is actually a community campaign originally intended for the PC modding scene, but Valve is helping it’s creator bring his next creation to the Xbox 360 as well.

Cold Stream will not be canon to the Left 4 Dead 2 storyline, so what Cold Stream could end up being is a complete mystery. It may not even take place in Georgia or Louisiana, like the Left 4 Dead 2 storyline. Just by the name of the campaign, the possibility of the campaign taking place in the snow, next to a river comes to mind (although this is complete speculation).

The release for this currently unnamed pack is simply “after Portal 2.” It’s also trapped in the infinite vortex known as Valve Time, so we’ll be getting the pack “when it’s done.” Kind of like Duke Nukem Forever, but probably nowhere near as long of a wait.

Considering only a single person is doing most of the work for this campaign, we shouldn’t be rushing any of his work and beg for this to be released immediately. You can’t rush perfection, you know.

“The Sacrifice” is set to be released on October 5th, 2010 for both Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 for the small price of 560 Microsoft Points.

[The Sacrifice]

Valve has announced a brand new downloadable chapter for both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 titled The Sacrifice. Set before the events of last DLC; The Passing, it will detail exactly how one of the original four survivors met their grisly, yet noble end.

The Sacrifice will star the original cast of Francis, Zoey, Louis and Bill; even if you play it via Left 4 Dead 2. However, Valve is not only just giving L4D2 players a chance to play as the originals survivors without loading the original, it’s also throwing the entire “No Mercy” campaign into the DLC for free. While details are very slim on when the DLC comes out, Valve did also confirm that there will be more Left 4 Dead 2 DLC after this upcoming package.

Valve has confirmed the release date of this week’s “The Passing,” which will be this Thursday, and the price will be 560 MSP on Xbox 360, and free for PC players.

Along with the previously mentioned additions, Valve has also revealed the every new achievement being added, along with a new “Mutations” feature.

Read on for the Achievements, and more info about “Mutations!”

The Passing Achievements

	Torch Bearer Survive The Passing Campaign.
	Port of Scavenge Play 5 full games of Scavenge on The Port.
	Fore! Knock off the heads of 18 infected with the golf club.
	Til It Goes Click Using the M60, kill 25 infected without letting go of the trigger.
	Killing Them Swiftly To This Song Play the new Midnight Riders song on a jukebox.
	Wedding Crasher As the Charger, grab a Survivor and crash them through 8 chairs at the wedding.
	Cache Grab Open 5 foot lockers.
	Kite Like a Man Kill a tank only with damage from the original Survivors.
	Grave Robber Collect 10 items dropped by a Fallen Survivor.
	Mutant Overlord Play 6 Mutations.

Mutations

What exactly are Mutations? Excellent question!

Mutations are special gametypes that cycle on a weekly basis, similar to Rock Band 2’s “Battle of the Bands” feature. There are twenty Mutations planned so far, one of them called “Chainsaw Massacre,” giving the Survivors all chainsaws and an unlimited supply of gasoline. Should be fun, eh?

Each Mutation will be playable in all Left 4 Dead 2 campaigns, but players must have “The Passing” in order to play them.

More info will be revealed tomorrow, so stick around to find out some new information. Maybe even the second gametype!

Even a new Midnight Riders track will be in it, entitled “Save Me Some Sugar.”

It is currently unknown exactly what the two gameplay types will be. The add-on will cost 560 MSP.

Valve has promised more news on the new campaign within the week, so keep an eye out!

[Via Kotaku and Steam]

[Via Left4Dead 2 Blog]

In the first two months of Left 4 Dead 2′s release, 28,981,249,043 zombies have been shot, bludgeoned, chainsawed and killed — or, for our younger readers, taken to a farm where they can frolic and shuffle around forever.
You read that correctly: 28 BILLION. To put that number in perspective:

• The entire population of the planet has been zombified and killed 4.26 times.
• With the average height of a zombie being 6 feet, if you stacked them end to end they would circle the globe 1,322 times.

To go along with Valve’s announcement of a release date for the latest Downloadable Add-on, The Passing, these set of screenshots were released to raise a bit of hype for the later release in March. Being an insane Left 4 Dead fan, I can say this is working quite well! Read more to view the rest of them, and check out the new Uncommon Common, the Fallen Survivor.

View Full Album

Is it me, or did Valve increase the zombie count for this campaign? If so, time to sharpen my katana…

Release Dates

March 9th – Final Fantasy XIII and its Limited Edition Bundle

The 13th entry in a long-lasting series dating back to the late 80’s, a new protagonist and other enhancements are sure to make for one of the most successful RPG’s in 2010.

The Limited Edition contains: an Xbox 360 with Limited Edition Faceplates, a 250 GB Hard Drive, two wireless controllers, exclusive downloadable avatar unlocks, and Final Fantasy XIII.

April 13th – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction

Co-op missions over Xbox LIVE, unique gameplay enhancements, and a suspenseful campaign and storyline have won Splinter Cell: Conviction the rights to be called one of the most anticipated games of the year.

May 3rd – Alan Wake

Following author Alan Wake in a town with more mysteries than answers, players will need to endure psychological horrors through a unique episodic campaign. Battling mind and darkness, players might want to reward themselves by pre-ordering either the Bright Falls Bonus Pack or the Limited Edition, both of which contain exclusive avatar unlocks, a “making of” video, and other goodies.

May 18th – Lost Planet 2

Set 10 years after the events of the first one, players will be able to fight through the hazardous world that is E.D.N. III with their own customizable characters. Whether playing alone or with up to 3 friends over Xbox LIVE, monstrous bosses, breathtaking environments, and the ever-present cold are sure to provide for some spectacular moments.

Pre-Release Extras

Halo: Reach – May 3rd – Public Multiplayer Beta Access beings for gamers that bought Halo 3: ODST through the ODST Game Disc.

Crackdown 2 – Pre-Ordering a copy of Crackdown 2 grants players a code which unlocks 4 exclusive suits of armor: Gold, Brushed, Red, and Blue Metal.

Dead Rising 2 – August – Downloadable game prologue Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO.

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing – Early Spring – Bringing the “casts” of Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 together in one exciting adventure, expect to see a brand new co-op campaign, new arenas for Survival, Versus, and Scavenge modes, and the introduction of an all-new cooperative mode.

Noteworthy Appearances

Fable III – Thrusting players into the power struggle that engulfs Albinon, fans of the series have a lot to look forward to. With your canine companion, gamers must choose which alliances to forge and which to break in the battle to become ruler. But once that power is gained, what kind of leader will emerge from the ashes? In an ever-changing world, decisions will directly impact your kingdom and its citizens.

[Via Gamerscore Blog and Major Nelson]

“Halo: Reach” (Bungie). As the blockbuster prequel to the best-selling Xbox franchise of all time, developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo: Reach” puts you front and center in the fateful moments that forged the “Halo” legend. As part of Noble Team, a squad of heroic Spartan soldiers, you will be called upon to defend the planet Reach, humankind’s last line of defense between the terrifying Covenant and Earth. Starting on May 3, the “Halo: Reach” public multiplayer beta will give you the opportunity to drive the latest advancements in multiplayer gameplay in the blockbuster franchise that started it all on Xbox LIVE. Access to the beta will be available through the “Halo 3: ODST” game disc on Xbox LIVE.

“Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Ltd.). Launching May 18 in North America and May 21 in Europe, nightmares come to life in this Xbox 360 exclusive that will establish a new gaming genre, the gripping psychological action thriller. It is built like a chilling episodic TV series, where your wits and light are your only allies, and you can pre-order your copy now at participating retailers to reserve your Bright Falls Bonus Pack, which includes exclusive content such as avatar gear, an Xbox LIVE theme, and a “making of” video. Those looking to immerse themselves in the mystery beyond the game can also pre-order the limited collector’s edition, packed with bonus discs of behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive in-game commentary and hints from Remedy, a game soundtrack, “The Alan Wake Files” book, and more, all bound together in a hardcover bookshelf-worthy package.

“Crackdown 2” (Ruffian Games). Available exclusively on Xbox 360 and hitting store shelves later this year, the sequel to the 2007 smash hit features over-the-top action, a massive living world, unprecedented online and multiplayer capabilities, and stylish graphics. Reserve your copy today and stand above the crowd — you’ll receive a code to download four exclusive suits of Agency-Issue armor: Gold, Brushed, Red and Blue Metal.

“Dead Rising 2” (Capcom). Following the 2006 bone-crunching, zombie-bashing action adventure hit, “Dead Rising 2” puts a new offbeat defender in the heart of the fight to save the United States from complete zombification. Before the mayhem launching in August and September, “Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO” will release as an exclusive Game Add-on only on Xbox LIVE.

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” content pack (Infinity Ward/Activision). The first content packs for this award-winning title and biggest entertainment launch ever will be available first on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE.

“Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction” (Ubisoft Entertainment). Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC on April 13 in North America, April 16 in the United Kingdom, and April 28 in Japan, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction” is the highly anticipated sequel in the multimillion-selling “Splinter Cell” series, and one of the most critically acclaimed Xbox franchises of all time. Uniting revolutionary gameplay enhancements with a high-octane, no-holds-barred storyline, the game also features intense co-op espionage missions on Xbox LIVE, making Xbox 360 the only console where you can unleash your inner renegade spy.

“FINAL FANTASY XIII” (Square Enix). The Xbox 360 “FINAL FANTASY XIII” Special Edition Bundle includes a 250GB hard drive, two wireless controllers, exclusive downloadable avatar items and a standard-edition copy of the dramatic sequel in the multimillion-selling series. Xbox 360 is the only console outside of Japan to be bundled with the game, available in stores starting March 9, while supplies last. In addition, a very limited number of “FINAL FANTASY XIII” Limited Edition Faceplates have been created by designer Tetsuya Nomura. These faceplates are only available promotionally in fixed quantities across select retailers in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

“Fable III” (Lionhead Studios). “Fable III” delivers an unparalleled action and adventure experience as players journey from revolutionary to the ruler of Albion and beyond. With your trusted canine companion, you will embark on an epic hero’s quest against injustice, forge alliances, crush your enemies and take control of your kingdom. But with great power comes great responsibility. Will you honor promises made in your rise to power, or sacrifice allegiance for personal gain? Choose wisely, as the decisions you make will forever impact your ever-evolving world.

“Lost Planet 2” (Capcom). The next installment of the popular third-person shooter returns you to breathtaking environments, unique Vital Suits and larger-than-life bosses of the world of E.D.N. III. The story picks up 10 years after the original game as players follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirate on their quest to seize control of the changing planet. You’ll be able to play through the intense and action-packed campaign mode with three of your friends on Xbox LIVE. “Lost Planet 2” launches in North America and Europe on May 18.

“Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing” (Valve). The first Game Add-on brings the original “Left 4 Dead” survivors down south for a meeting with the “Left 4 Dead 2” cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay, exclusively for Xbox 360 and PC. Targeting an early spring release, “Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing” will include new co-operative campaign and associated narrative and new arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes, and introduce a new co-operative challenge mode.²

“Toy Soldiers” (Signal Studios). An intense action game kicking off the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party on March 3, “Toy Soldiers” casts players into a fantastic, miniature world where antique toy soldiers fight in vintage World War I dioramas. To celebrate the release of “Toy Soldiers” on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Microsoft is launching a companion Facebook experience on Feb. 12, “Toy Soldiers: Match Defense,” which will have you and your friends matching items to collectively win countries and conquer Europe.

“Game Room” (Krome Studios Pty Ltd.). Launching this March as a part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party, “Game Room” lets gamers relive the glory days of classic arcade and console games in their original forms, as the player’s avatar takes part in the original sights, sounds and gameplay only on Xbox 360 and Windows-based PC.

“Perfect Dark” (4J Studios). Fire up your Farsight and prepare for assignment — the Dark returns this March as part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party. Agent Joanna Dark brings her epic tale of galactic conspiracies in future America to Xbox 360 with remastered visuals, LIVE-enabled multiplayer modes, leader boards, achievements and avatar awards.

“Scrap Metal” (Slick Entertainment Inc.). Launching in March as a part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party, “Scrap Metal” lets gamers drift around corners with guns blazing and take out competitors in this fast-paced, top-down racer. Gamers fight their way through explosive, action-packed missions, defeat cunning bosses, or jump on Xbox LIVE to race against their friends, exclusively on Xbox 360.