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THQ Signs Left 4 Dead Developers, Promising to (Guess What?) Change Multiplayer

It's a shooter. It has multiplayer. And you won't be playing it until 2013.

By Patrick Klepek  |  May 26, 2011

THQ continues to make some interesting moves, spearheaded by former Hollywood producer-turned-gaming exec Danny Bilson. The publisher's signed the next game from Turtle Rock Studios, who used to be cozy with Valve, resulting in Counter-Strike: Source and Left 4 Dead.

All we know about Turtle Rock's latest is a first-person-shooter featuring, uh, multiplayer, with Bilson projecting it will "make a similar impact [as Left 4 Dead] in the multiplayer space."

As for when we'll hear more about it, that's less clear. It won't be at E3, with a "full reveal" coming at a "later date" in the "months ahead." I'm "doing" a lot of "quoting" this "press release."

And even when we hear about the project, playing it's even further off: sometime in 2013.

Filed under: Left 4 Dead, THQ, Turtle Rock Studios, Inc.
53 Comments
NovaDTHon May 26, 2011 at 11:10 a.m.
More L4D! 
 
Edit: Not more L4D :(
Meatsimon May 26, 2011 at 11:11 a.m.
Hopefully it's not more zombies.
ribeyeon May 26, 2011 at 11:12 a.m.
GarageBuddy MMO! ....wait
wolf_blitzer85on May 26, 2011 at 11:13 a.m.
So Left 4 Dead in the Unreal Engine instead?
 
I kid. This is kinda cool. I mean the developers are branching out and trying new things. They did awesome things with the Source Engine, so let's see what they can do with another set of tools.
 
I hope it's not Left 4 Dead UNREALIZED or something of the likes....
Bucketdethon May 26, 2011 at 11:15 a.m.
Interesting, wonder what it will be.
auguston May 26, 2011 at 11:16 a.m.
So... I guess Turtle Rock bought their ownership back from Valve?
JJOR64on May 26, 2011 at 11:16 a.m.
Curious to see what this thing is.
datarezon May 26, 2011 at 11:16 a.m.
I had thought Valve would have locked these guys down, but I guess not.  Makes me think more and more that Valve is just there for steam sales anymore. Portal 2 was awesome, amazing and fantastic but also another team.
Gildermershina is online on May 26, 2011 at 11:16 a.m.
I could have sworn Turtle Rock was acquired by Valve and that was that. Apparently I missed the part where they reformed as a separate studio.
CrimsonNoiron May 26, 2011 at 11:16 a.m.
i thought valve bought up Turtle Rock Studios.
MattyFTM moderator on May 26, 2011 at 11:19 a.m.

I thought Valve owned Turtle Rock? Didn't they buy them a while back?

Bumptonon May 26, 2011 at 11:23 a.m.

I thought Valve owned Turtle Rock, but I guess not.
Cretaceous_Bobon May 26, 2011 at 11:24 a.m.
Valve bought Turtle Rock, then didn't need them, so they shut the studio down, then Turtle Rock made Turtle Rock again and started making games again. 
 
Sounds like Valve really only bought Left 4 Dead.
zaglison May 26, 2011 at 11:24 a.m.
Since when Turtle Rock made CSS?
 
Wut
Tuffgongon May 26, 2011 at 11:26 a.m.
Keep in mind people that Valve doesn't always self-publish their games.  EA had a partners deal with Valve to publish all their games for retail while Valve obviously puts it out for Steam.  I am curious about this story however for the same reasons.  The name Turtle Rock technically doesn't exist anymore as of 2008 and has become Valve South ever since.  But I bet this wasn't done behind the backs of Valve.  That studio must still consider itself Turtle Rock if it wanted to branch out from under Valve without completely leaving it (because THQ didn't acquire them, just publishing their next game).
 
I too hope it's not more zombies because we've already got two Left 4 Dead games, two Dead Rising games, and Dead Island coming up and we don't need another.
natedagr811on May 26, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.
For those wondering regarding Turtle Rock's leaving Valve, Doug Lombardi confirmed it at E3 2009. Technically, Left4Dead 2 wasn't developed under Turtle Rock's name.  
 
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23913
Kyleon May 26, 2011 at 11:31 a.m.
THQ turnin' it up.
boylieon May 26, 2011 at 11:35 a.m.
...what happened between Turtle Rock and Valve I wonder?
Winterneton May 26, 2011 at 11:35 a.m.
2013! Dude, don't even come out and say it. I can't even count higher than 12. Take it easy.
gorkamorkaorkaon May 26, 2011 at 11:41 a.m.
@datarez:  
Half-Life takes a lot of work. Don't get all effin cynical.

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