Editing Half-Life (video game) (section)

== Release ==
To promote ''Half-Life'', Valve's chief marketing officer, Monica Harrington, promoted Valve's reputation in the industry, with conference talks about their advances in game development, leading to coverage in the ''[[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref name=":5" />  

''Half-Life'' was released on November 19, 1998.<ref name="fhhalflife5">{{Cite web |title=The Final Hours of Half-Life: Reassembling the Pieces |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part5.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225022620/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part5.html |archive-date=February 25, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2006 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> When Sierra told Valve it was not planning to promote it beyond launch, Monica Harrington threatened that Valve would "walk away from our agreement and tell the industry that had fallen in love with Valve how screwed up Sierra really was". In response, Sierra reissued ''Half-Life'' in a "Game of the Year" edition, boosting sales.<ref name=":5" /> In 2001, after renegotiating with Sierra, Valve gained the ''Half-Life'' intellectual property and online distribution rights for its games.<ref name=":5" />

Valve released two ''Half-Life'' [[game demo|demos]]. The first, ''Half-Life: Day One'', contained the first fifth of the game and was distributed with certain graphic cards. The second, ''Half-Life: Uplink'', was released on February 12, 1999, and featured original content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valve Archive – Half-Life: Uplink Demo |url=https://valvearchive.com/half-life/uplink/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716214828/http://valvearchive.com/half-life/uplink/ |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |website=valvearchive.com}}</ref> A short film based on ''Half-Life,'' also titled ''Half-Life: Uplink'', was developed by Cruise Control, a British marketing agency, and released on February 11, 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 11, 1999 |title=Half Life Demo is Here! |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/12/half-life-demo-is-here |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124004018/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/12/half-life-demo-is-here |archive-date=November 24, 2018 |access-date=November 23, 2018 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> The protagonist is a journalist who infiltrates the Black Mesa Research Facility, trying to discover what has happened there.<ref>{{Citation |last=Combine OverWiki |title=Half-Life: Uplink (1999 short film) |date=January 2, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw7TVE4mUVg |access-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108010757/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw7TVE4mUVg |url-status=live |archive-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>

''Half-Life'' was censored in Germany to comply with the [[Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons]], which regulates depictions of violence against humans. Valve replaced the human characters with robots, spilling oil and gears instead of blood and body parts when killed, among other changes. In 2017, ''Half-Life'' was removed from the German censorship list. To acknowledge this, Valve released ''Half-Life Uncensored'', a free [[downloadable content]] pack, that reverts the censorship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Half-Life goes uncensored in Germany, two decades after original release |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/4/15543420/half-life-german-version-uncensored |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322210806/https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/4/15543420/half-life-german-version-uncensored |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=March 22, 2019 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref>

=== Ports ===
{{See also|Unreleased Half-Life games#Dreamcast port}}Valve canceled a version of ''Half-Life'' for [[MacOS|Mac]], developed by Logicware, in 2000. Newell said the port was substandard and would have made Mac players "second-class customers".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ajami |first=Amer |date=April 27, 2000 |title=Mac ''Half-Life'' canceled |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mac-half-life-canceled/1100-2448672/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204144617/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mac-half-life-canceled/1100-2448672/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Rebecca Heineman]], the co-founder of Logicware, denied this, saying that Valve cancelled the port as [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] had angered them by misrepresenting sales projections. She said the port was complete and three weeks from release.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPTLPXNtb2I&ab_channel=RMC-TheCave |title=Rebecca Heineman - Developer & Co-Founder of Interplay {{!}} Retro Tea Break |date=February 2, 2023 |time=1:36:41 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204152955/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPTLPXNtb2I&ab_channel=RMC-TheCave |url-status=live }}</ref> Valve released ports for [[Mac OS X|OS X]] and [[Linux]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=January 25, 2013 |title=Original ''Half-Life'' finally available for OS X through Steam nearly 15 years after its release |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/25/3915338/original-half-life-finally-available-for-os-x-through-steam |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204144617/https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/25/3915338/original-half-life-finally-available-for-os-x-through-steam |url-status=live }}</ref>

Captivation Digital Laboratories and [[Gearbox Software]] developed a [[Porting|port]] of ''Half-Life'' for the [[Dreamcast]], with new character models and textures and an exclusive expansion, ''[[Half-Life: Blue Shift|Blue Shift]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stahl |first=Ben |date=September 5, 2000 |title=ECTS ''Half-Life'' Dreamcast Hands-On |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ectshalf-life-dreamcast-hands-on/1100-2624258/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095128/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ectshalf-life-dreamcast-hands-on/1100-2624258/ |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=October 26, 2008 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> Following the cancellations of several third-party Dreamcast games in the wake of [[Sega]]'s decision to discontinue the console in March 2001, Sierra cancelled the port weeks before its scheduled release in June, citing "changing marketing conditions".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Chau |first=Anthony |date=June 18, 2001 |title=Not Given Half A Chance: The Cancellation of Half-Life |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/18/not-given-half-a-chance-the-cancellation-of-half-life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804093350/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/18/not-given-half-a-chance-the-cancellation-of-half-life |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Satterfield |first=Shane |date=July 31, 2001 |title=Half-Life for the Dreamcast officially cancelled |work=[[GameSpot]] |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-for-the-dreamcast-officially-cancelled/1100-2776155/ |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716065645/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-for-the-dreamcast-officially-cancelled/1100-2776155/ |archive-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref> ''Blue Shift'' was ported to Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2001 |title=Ready to Jump Back into the Black Mesa Research Facility? |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/30/ready-to-jump-back-into-the-black-mesa-research-facility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820095527/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/30/ready-to-jump-back-into-the-black-mesa-research-facility |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> The Dreamcast port became the basis of the ''Half-Life'' port for PlayStation 2, released in late 2001. This version added competitive play and a co-op expansion, ''[[Half-Life: Decay]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2000 |title=Sierra Delivers ''Half-Life'' to PlayStation 2 |url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/087/087979p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215010054/http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/087/087979p1.html |archive-date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2019 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>''

=== Source Engine version ===
In 2004, Valve released ''Half-Life: Source'', a remastered version of ''Half-Life'' ported to their new game engine, [[Source (game engine)|Source]]. It includes few new graphical elements, but does add new [[ragdoll physics]], advanced water effects, and [[5.1 surround sound]]. It received negative reviews for its many glitches and lack of significant graphical improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNamara |first=Tom |date=November 19, 2004 |title=Half-Life: Source |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/19/half-life-source |access-date=February 13, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401153955/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/19/half-life-source |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the release of the ''Half-Life'' 25th anniversary update in 2023, ''Half-Life: Source'' was delisted from [[Steam (service)|Steam]] and does not appear in its search results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=2023-11-18 |title=Valve Finally Unlists Buggy Half-Life: Source |url=https://www.thegamer.com/half-life-source-unlisted-from-steam-buggy-cant-find/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref> 

=== Remake ===
''[[Black Mesa (video game)|Black Mesa]]'', a third-party remake of ''Half-Life'' developed by [[Crowbar Collective]] on the [[Source (game engine)|Source]] engine, was published as a free mod in September 2012 and later approved by Valve for a commercial standalone release.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Senior, Tom |date=September 3, 2012 |title=Black Mesa Source release date revealed, high-res headcrabs due in 11 days |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/03/black-mesa-source-release-date-revealed-high-res-headcrabs-due-in-11-days/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922020144/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/03/black-mesa-source-release-date-revealed-high-res-headcrabs-due-in-11-days/ |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Cobbett, Richard |date=September 14, 2012 |title=Black Mesa Source released – download it now! |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/14/black-mesa-source-finally-released-download-it-now/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925011202/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/14/black-mesa-source-finally-released-download-it-now/ |archive-date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

===25th-anniversary update===
{{external media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZ3HzvFEto 25th anniversary documentary on ''Half-Life'' by Valve]}}
In November 2023, for the 25th anniversary of ''Half-Life'', Valve updated the Steam version to revert content to its original 1998 state, fix long-standing bugs, and add content including the ''Half-Life: Uplink'' demo, four new multiplayer maps, [[Steam Deck]] support, rendering improvements, and support for [[4K resolution]] monitors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Koselke |first=Anna |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Half-Life gets massive update for 25th anniversary, new maps and more |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/half-life/update-anniversary |accessdate=November 17, 2023 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117200338/https://www.pcgamesn.com/half-life/update-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/6941797379568863069 |title=Half-Life 25th Anniversary Update |website=Steam |date=November 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-29 |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201175638/http://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/6941797379568863069 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/how-valve-finally-fixed-a-half-life-bug-thats-almost-as-old-as-the-game-itself |title=How Valve Finally Fixed a Half-Life Bug That's Almost as Old as the Game Itself |website=IGN |date=November 24, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-29 |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129032752/https://www.ign.com/articles/how-valve-finally-fixed-a-half-life-bug-thats-almost-as-old-as-the-game-itself |url-status=live }}</ref> Valve also released an hour-long documentary on the creation of ''Half-Life'', featuring commentary from the original developers, designers and artists.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Half-Life's 25th anniversary celebrations have caused a resonance cascade in its Steam player-count, surging to a new all-time high over the weekend |language=en |work=[[PC Gamer]] |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/half-lifes-25th-anniversary-celebrations-have-caused-a-resonance-cascade-in-its-steam-player-count-surging-to-a-new-all-time-high-over-the-weekend/ |access-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120130309/https://www.pcgamer.com/half-lifes-25th-anniversary-celebrations-have-caused-a-resonance-cascade-in-its-steam-player-count-surging-to-a-new-all-time-high-over-the-weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two days after the release, ''Half-Life'' reached 33,471 concurrent players on Steam, its highest-ever number.<ref name=":4" />