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Half-Life 2 Hits Steam on Mac Tomorrow

Get your crowbar finger ready.

As expected, Half-Life 2 will indeed be making its way to the Macintosh. What I--and more than a few other surprised industry dudes--didn't expect though, is how soon we'll be able to play it via Steam on Mac. According to a radical video put out by developer Valve this afternoon, the Freeman will be playable at some point tomorrow, and as Shacknews has learned, this release will include both downloadable episodes to the game: Episode One and Episode Two.
 
The video below is what I'm talking about. It's a fantastic digital recreation of Ridley Scott's infamous 1984 Macintosh commercial. In it, you'll see Half-Life 2's female lead, Alyx (instead of Anja Major), throw a crowbar (instead of a sledgehammer) into a towering screen with Breen's mug projected onto it. The words "Game ownership is no longer dictated by platform" and "Free Yourself" flash beforehand as Alyx makes her run from the guards to a nice, vomit-free hurling spot. Check it out!
 

 
All developers should announce their games like this, by the way. Make it happen, every-developer-in-the-world. Make it happen.

73 Comments

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson

As expected, Half-Life 2 will indeed be making its way to the Macintosh. What I--and more than a few other surprised industry dudes--didn't expect though, is how soon we'll be able to play it via Steam on Mac. According to a radical video put out by developer Valve this afternoon, the Freeman will be playable at some point tomorrow, and as Shacknews has learned, this release will include both downloadable episodes to the game: Episode One and Episode Two.
 
The video below is what I'm talking about. It's a fantastic digital recreation of Ridley Scott's infamous 1984 Macintosh commercial. In it, you'll see Half-Life 2's female lead, Alyx (instead of Anja Major), throw a crowbar (instead of a sledgehammer) into a towering screen with Breen's mug projected onto it. The words "Game ownership is no longer dictated by platform" and "Free Yourself" flash beforehand as Alyx makes her run from the guards to a nice, vomit-free hurling spot. Check it out!
 

 
All developers should announce their games like this, by the way. Make it happen, every-developer-in-the-world. Make it happen.

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Jadeskye

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Edited By Jadeskye
Still no ep 3? :(
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Marconi88

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Edited By Marconi88

I can finally play this game with a mouse and keyboard.

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PistolPackinPoet

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Edited By PistolPackinPoet

guessnot

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thevamp25

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Edited By thevamp25

i see what they did there...

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McQuinn

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Edited By McQuinn

is that only hl2 or all hl2 source based mods too?  I need l4d2 and ill be golden.

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aurahack

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Edited By aurahack

I love that they are re-releasing HL2 for the 3rd... wait, no, 4th time before even having finished Episode 3.

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rjayb89

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Edited By rjayb89

Dude wtf, AWESOME COMMERCIAL.

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MarkWahlberg

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Edited By MarkWahlberg

free?

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MysteriousBob

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Edited By MysteriousBob

 "Game ownership is no longer dictated by platform.  And we're still not going to fucking update the 360 version of TF2 like we promised." 

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Paulrus

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Edited By Paulrus

Good, but I'm still waiting for TF2 on the Mac.

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superfriend

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Edited By superfriend

Wow, this is really amazing. This old commercial though... put in a modern context it kinda makes sense. But the other way around.

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TheMikelGuereca

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Edited By TheMikelGuereca

I wonder if Steam Achievements are making an appearance? That would make me play Half-Life 2 again!

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ZmillA

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Edited By ZmillA

so cool, love HL universe (post HL1)

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Animasta

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Edited By Animasta
@MysteriousBob said:
"  "Game ownership is no longer dictated by platform.  And we're still not going to fucking update the 360 version of TF2 like we promised."  "
they probably want to wait until they're done with the engineer update; if I recall, devs only get on free release per platform.
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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

Sounds great! Been looking for some more quality games on Steam for Mac.

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Scooper

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Edited By Scooper
@jadeskye said:
" Still no ep 3? :( "
Yeah... no... ;(
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Daveyo520

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Edited By Daveyo520

it's not like I own it on PC and Xbox already.
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RobotHamster

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Edited By RobotHamster

Wheres my TF2?

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EvanFavreau

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Edited By EvanFavreau

Cool video. Can't wait until I can get my new Macbook and start enjoying Steam.

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Cathadan

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Edited By Cathadan
@Paulrus said:
" Good, but I'm still waiting for TF2 on the Mac. "
Yeah, Half-life doesn't quite have the same replay value. ;)
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Etan

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Edited By Etan
@RobotHamster said:
" Wheres my TF2? "
It would make no sense for them to release everything they have at once. First of all I'm sure it would suck to be trying to fix the bugs in all of their games at once. Then there's also the fact that they want as much publicity as possible for steam on the mac, so it would make no sense to release all the games at once.
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samsaturday

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Edited By samsaturday

I've played HL2 on both the original Xbox, then again on the 360. And I still just might try it out Mac. Just because.

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s7evn

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Edited By s7evn

great video, though it seems like something that is creatable in Garry's Mod

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august

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Edited By august
@Etan said:
" @RobotHamster said:
" Wheres my TF2? "
It would make no sense for them to release everything they have at once. First of all I'm sure it would suck to be trying to fix the bugs in all of their games at once. Then there's also the fact that they want as much publicity as possible for steam on the mac, so it would make no sense to release all the games at once. "
Agreed.
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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

It's 2004 all over again.

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deactivated-63ce64d7ef40c

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And 5 / 26 / 2010 is what in Valve time?

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ShooterJoseph

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Edited By ShooterJoseph

Sweet ad for it. =P  But yeah, still waiting for tf2! :D

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captain_clayman

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Edited By captain_clayman

I ALREADY PLAYED IT LIKE 70 TIMES 
this is nice, but i want tf2
 
fuck i might just reinstall windows.
 
 
also, genius video.

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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo

That's "soon" as in "six years later".

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spiceninja

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Edited By spiceninja

Now that it's on Mac maybe they'll add Steam achievements to it now. It has friggin' achievements in the Orange Box on 360. How hard can it be to take those and just put them into the PC version? It's frustrating.

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stackboy

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Edited By stackboy

I think this is my new favourite video game video thing.

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TheMustacheHero

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Edited By TheMustacheHero

Why is Valve giving us all the games no one wants to play/ has played 100 times?
 
Give us L4D2 and TF2 already!

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ISmoochyI

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Edited By ISmoochyI

so stoked

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Derios

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Edited By Derios

Omar's a strollin! Man is that show good.

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PillClinton

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Edited By PillClinton

leave it to Valve to make the best trailer in existence.

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Tyrax

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Edited By Tyrax

So... its three fingers and swipe toward the right on the magic mouse to change weapons right? Ah forget this, I am going back to the original xbox release of Half-life 2
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Blitzer

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Edited By Blitzer

Ahh poor Mac users. Still playing games 10 years behind us. lol

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Nasar7

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Edited By Nasar7

Is this news? Who cares?

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

Sorry if I don't get all excited about a six year old game coming to my Mac.

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Edited By Gregomasta
@virtorio:  5/26/2010  Between 10-3pm PST.
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Edited By MysteriousBob
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Edited By ArbitraryWater

Uh huh. I already played and beat Half Life 2 when it was part of the Orange Box 3 years ago. I'm sure that the people who played and beat it when it came out 6 years ago care a bunch too.

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Krystal_Sackful

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Edited By Krystal_Sackful
@Branthog: 
Old = bad
Is that what you're telling me?
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LegalBagel

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Edited By LegalBagel
@MysteriousBob said:
" http://gamejournos.tumblr.com/  Great, you've ruined GBs perfect record.  "
I note that A) the article has been changed from what the tumblr quotes, presumably to save embarrassment from the obviously pretty bad line and B) the first two sentences don't really fit together now that the first one has been changed.  Good job all around.
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Zanthox

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Edited By Zanthox

that ad is so epic.

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Brackynews

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Edited By Brackynews

Yes I'll install it.
No I'm not excited.
Still have Orange Box cheevos to work on.

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stewjaynes

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Edited By stewjaynes
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Reverseface

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Edited By Reverseface

Lol playing games on a mac megalolzllzozozloolz a bike lolz

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Edited By MachoFantastico

Should I? Shouldn't I? Oh what the hell.  
 
Where's my Episode three Valve? 
 
Amazing games, some of the best ever. Hold up well aswell.