Updates (Left 4 Dead)

The following is a history of updates applied to Left 4 Dead. The updates, when on the PC version of Left 4 Dead, will be applied automatically when you restart Steam, and on the Xbox 360, you will be prompted to update the game when you start it up—however, this only happens if you have Xbox LIVE. The list goes from the most recent at the top, and the earliest at the bottom. These are only the specific changes made to Left 4 Dead itself. Note that the PC version gets the updates first, and that the Xbox 360 version gets all of the updates to that point in time in a pack. Due to this, it's possible that some of the more recent updates have not yet be released for the console version.

February 05, 2009

 * Downloadable Content (available this spring): a new multiplayer game mode entitled "Survival", in addition two complete campaigns for Versus Mode (Dead Air & Death Toll).
 * A Critic's Choice Edition of the game is also heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack.
 * In addition, for PC gamers and aspiring developers, the first Left 4 Dead release for the Source Software Development Kit (Source SDK) will allow the creation of custom Left 4 Dead campaigns that will be discoverable via L4D ' s matchmaking system. The SDK update is also due for release this spring, and is free of charge to all owners of L4D on the PC.

January 23, 2009

 * Fixed an exploit with melee where swapping weapons ignored the intended delay between swings.
 * In Versus mode, the Tank's health now reflects the damage it takes from burning.
 * Fixed an exploit related to the "joinclass" command.

January 15, 2009

 * Fixed client crash on certain video cards.

General

 * Fixed Survivors being able to climb surfaces marked for versus infected only.
 * Fixed a class of SurvivorBot bugs dealing with rescuing downed players.
 * Players can no longer grab ladders while flying through the air after a Tank punch.
 * Shooting near a car with an alarm that has already fired the alarm will no longer make chirping noises.
 * Improved loading time.
 * Fixed mini-gun physics exploit.
 * Fixed propane tanks (and other physics objects) causing players to fall through elevators.
 * Fixed rare achievement bug issues.
 * Fixed several map exploits.
 * Fixed various match making issues.
 * Fixed NAT traversal issues.

Versus Changes

 * Added HUD elements to show status of other infected players.
 * Changed color of infected player name in chat to red.
 * Fixed exploit where players could spawn infected bots.
 * Fixed instance where a Survivor changing to the infected team would be attacked by infected bots.
 * Normalized special infected melee damage.
 * Made the following client commands cheat protected: "Kill" and "explode".
 * Fixed exploit where infected players could run away and teleport back to gain health.
 * Players can only change teams once per map.
 * Players can't change teams while other players are still loading.
 * Tank spawns at the same % through the map for both teams in versus mode.
 * Made the Tank and Witch spawn directly on the escape route.
 * Increased chance of getting the Tank or Witch.
 * Fixed team swap issue.

Hunter

 * Easier to pounce a Survivor who is meleeing.
 * Increased minimum damage a Hunter pounce does.

Smoker

 * Fixed Smoker tongue tolerance
 * Smoker now has to be killed or the tongue destroyed for the tongue to break.
 * Survivor's cannot bash someone off the tongue until the Survivor being pulled is paralyzed or hanging.
 * Tongue attacks that fail to paralyze or hang a Survivor will use the shorter ability delay timer.
 * Fixed cases where the ability timer was not using the correct time.
 * Fixed case where you could point at a Survivor but not register a tongue hit.
 * Fixed Smoker tongue not targeting and landing properly through PZ ghosts.
 * Smoker tongue does damage every second while dragging paralyzed Survivors.

Tank

 * Bashable objects now appear with a red glow.
 * Tanks hitting a car with an alarm disables the alarm permanently.
 * Tank frustration timer is only reset by hitting Survivors with rocks or fists.
 * Reduced auto shotgun damage against Tanks.

Witch

 * Witch spawns at the same % through the map for both teams.
 * Avoids spawning within a certain % of the tank.
 * Fixed an exploit where the Witch could be woken up and tricked into attacking Survivors.

December 5, 2008

 * Fixed Infected Players melee pushing large objects to block the survivors path.
 * Fixed +lobby exploit.
 * Fixed exploit of "hugging" the Witch from behind where she can't hit you:
 * Fixed players not being kicked from a vote by changing their name before it succeeds.
 * Disabled difficulty change votes from the console in versus mode.

December 4, 2008

 * Finding a dedicated server when starting the game from a lobby is now faster and more reliable.
 * Versus mode is now locked to Normal difficulty.
 * Difficulty on a server is now locked to the one set by the lobby reservation.
 * Fixed lagouts/spikes after level transition.
 * Fixed directory issue with spray logs in some cases.
 * Fixed video settings not saving after closing video options dialog.
 * Corrected a boomer suicide exploit.
 * Several minor localization fixes.
 * Fixed disabling cheats incorrectly resetting data.

November 25, 2008

 * Fix for alt-tab crash in certain cases.