Left 4 Dead 2
Developers | |
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Valve Corporation | |
Engines | |
Source | |
Release dates | |
Windows | November 19, 2009 |
macOS (OS X) | October 5, 2010 |
Linux | May 3, 2013 |
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
Left 4 Dead | |
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Left 4 Dead | 2008 |
Left 4 Dead 2 | 2009 |
Key points
- A hack enabling split-screen co-op is available; see Local play.
- Extensive modding community, including Steam Workshop integration.
- Runs on low-end hardware.
- Includes "Left 4 Dead 1" campaigns + all DLC campaigns.
- Censored in some countries, see Low Violence/Censored Versions to override.
General information
- Official Left 4 Dead Blog
- Unofficial Left 4 Dead Wiki
- GitHub Issue Tracker for Left 4 Dead 2 and other Source-based games
- Steam Community Discussions
- Steam Users' Forums
- Steam Workshop for Left 4 Dead 2
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
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Retail | ||||
Incorrect store name. See here for available options. | ||||
Green Man Gaming | ||||
Steam |
- All versions require Steam.
Version differences
- Content is censored in some countries. For Australia, install the Left 4 Dead 2 - Uncensored DLC; for Germany and other regions see Low Violence/Censored Versions.
Essential improvements
Launch parameters
To learn how to add launch parameters, see Launch options.
Useful launch parameters
Parameter | Description |
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-w X -h Y |
Sets screen resolution (or window resolution if using -window). Example: -w 1920 -h 1080 .
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-refresh X |
Sets your screen refresh-rate (Hz). Example: -refresh 60 .
|
-noborder -window |
Launches the game in a borderless fullscreen window (i.e. very alt-tab friendly). This may result in a minor performance loss. If you experience stuttering, disable Windows Aero. |
-novid |
Skip intro videos |
-autoconfig |
Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed. |
+mat_motion_blur_percent_of_screen_max 0 |
Removes motion blur. |
Low Violence/Censored Versions
- Due to censorship laws in countries such as Australia and Germany, versions of the game sold in these regions have no dismemberment, blood spatter, corpses, burning and more.
- For Australia, install the Left 4 Dead 2 - Uncensored DLC; for Germany and other regions, follow the steps below.
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- Steam Cloud settings are stored in
<Steam-folder>/userdata/<user-id>/550/remote/
.
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
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Steam Cloud |
Video settings
Split-screen without bezels
- L4D2 split-screen mode was meant to be played on a single 4:3 or 16:9 screen. If you have a different setup , the image could not entirely fit the monitor(s).
- L4D2's file which is going to be edited is packed. Minimal hex editing knowledge is required.
Instructions |
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Input settings
Mouse+Keyboard in split-screen
Instructions |
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Audio settings
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
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English | ||||
Simplified Chinese | ||||
Traditional Chinese | ||||
Czech | ||||
Danish | ||||
Dutch | ||||
Finnish | ||||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Hungarian | ||||
Italian | ||||
Japanese | ||||
Korean | ||||
Norwegian | ||||
Polish | ||||
Portuguese | ||||
Russian | ||||
Spanish | ||||
Swedish | ||||
Turkish |
Network
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Local play | 2 | Co-op See Local play. |
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LAN play | 8 | Co-op, Versus Co-op (4 players) or "Versus" mode (up to 4v4 Survivors vs. Infected). |
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Online play | 8 | Co-op, Versus Co-op (4 players) or "Versus" mode (up to 4v4 Survivors vs. Infected). |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
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Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | ||
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP | Use connect [IP address here] in the console.Server must have set sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0 |
Ports
Protocol | Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
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TCP | 27014-27050 |
UDP | 4380, 27000-27030 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
Local play
- "SFKTeam - Kaotic" created an UI mod which should simplify even more these steps
- A list of useful console commands is available below
Instructions |
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VR support
3D modes | State | GG3D | Notes | |
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Nvidia 3D Vision | ||||
TriDef 3D | ||||
iZ3D |
Headsets | |||
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SteamVR | This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer (compatibility list). | ||
Oculus VR (LibOVR) | See Left 4 Dead 2 in the Rift with Hud Addon. | ||
Windows Mixed Reality | This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer. |
Devices | |||
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Tracked motion controllers | |||
Traditional controller | |||
Keyboard/Mouse |
Issues fixed
Purple and black broken textures
- A generic fix for this issue can be found on the Source engine page.
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 | |
OpenGL | 2.1 | OS X and Linux only. |
Shader Model support | 2, 3 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
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Windows | |||
macOS (OS X) | |||
Linux |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
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Physics | Havok | Heavily modified variant. |
Audio | Miles Sound System | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | Steamworks |
Console commands
- Games running on the Source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks.[1]
Instructions |
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- You can also have the console open by default on launch by following this guide:
Instructions |
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Creating your own CFG (to run multiple console commands together)
A CFG is a file that contains a list of commands that when run will attempt to execute them all
Open up a text editor such as notepad and type in all the commands you want separating each with a ;
When done save the file as filename.cfg in <path-to-game>\left4dead2\cfg\
. To run the cfg file, open the console during the game and type in exec filename.cfg
If you want the CFG file to run automatically, name it autoexec.cfg
Launch options
- View this Steam Support Article regarding launch options as well as the relevant Valve Developer wiki page for further information and a list of useful Source engine launch options.
Instructions |
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Notable Workshop mods
The game has a huge variety of mods, however, what may be "better" is subjective and opinionated (so Shrek Tank won't be listed here, for example). These mods help improve the base game, though use them as your discretion.
Graphics
- Informal Skyboxes
- HD Blood textures (alternative is Paintball)
- Enhanced Graphic Mod HD - HD texture pack.
- Realistic flashlight - Makes the default flashlight cleaner.
UI
- Team Health Counter - Adds numbered HP for teammates.
- Urik Color Icons - Adds color to the black-and-white icons.
Audio
- Resident Evil Weapon Sounds (low mid) - Lowers the volume of gunshot sounds because constantly hearing loud gunshots can be annoying.
- Shut Up Survivors - Mutes some of the more annoying survivors quotes. Important quotes are left intact.
Gameplay
- Disable blue ghost vision - Disables the weird blue ghost vision in Versus
- Disables orange ghost vision - Disables the weird orange ghost vision in Versus
- Improved Bots - Makes the bots less stupid.
Third person support
- An instant mod is 3PS
Input these 5 commands in the console.
c_thirdpersonshoulderaimdist 360 c_thirdpersonshoulderdist 90 c_thirdpersonshoulderheight 0 c_thirdpersonshoulderoffset 20 bind "F10" "thirdpersonshoulder"
Alternate third person which places the player in the center under the crosshair and raises the camera higher.
c_thirdpersonshoulderaimdist 1000 c_thirdpersonshoulderdist 115 c_thirdpersonshoulderheight 15 c_thirdpersonshoulderoffset 0
Pressing F10 will toggle between first and third person. You will have a greater FOV.
Some warnings:
- Some cutscene intros may be angled incorrectly.
- You may see a weird inaccurate weapon shadow.
- The crosshair may be slightly off-center. You can mess around with the "cam_idealyaw" function to correct this. This isn't usually a hindrance anyway.
- Flashlight glows may be seen at your character's back.
- When survivors heal you, their animations will look glitchy.
- The camera may occasionally see through walls and objects.
- The shotgun will sound very quiet. Try this, however, it may cause online games to crash.
- The motion blur for the fire axe and possibly other melee weapons may look ridiculous. Here's a mod to remove melee motion blur.
- Switching between first and third person in-game may cause the HUD to disappear.
- Dying and entering new areas may revert it to first person.
Useful split-screen commands
Since Split-screen mode in Left 4 Dead 2 isn't officially supported, there are multiple important key settings which aren't immediately available.
Command | Description | |
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connect_splitscreen localhost [ip-address] 2 | Connect to a LAN or Internet server. Direct connections must be allowed | |
[cmd/cmd2] jointeam (2/3) | Assign selected player (cmd) to either survivor or infected team | |
ss_map <map-name> [realism/survival/versus/mutation# | Play the selected map in the desired mode | |
ss_splitmode (0/1/2) | Toggle horizontal and vertical screen split (0 is auto selection) | |
z_difficulty (Easy/Normal/Hard/Impossible) | Change game difficulty | |
setinfo name Max | Change player 1 name | |
name2 Tony | Change player 2 name |
Text chat with keyboard in controller mode
- If you play using a controller and want to use the text chat (press Y) online, you must do this.
Instructions |
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Enabling HBAO+ for NVIDIA graphics cards
- Use the Ambient Occlusion flag
0x00000014
withQuality
orHigh Quality
.
Instructions |
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System requirements
Windows | ||
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Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | XP, Vista, 7 | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium IV 3.0 GHz | Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz |
System memory (RAM) | 2 | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 13 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATi Radeon X800 NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 2.0 support |
ATi Radeon X1600 NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 3.0 support |
Sound (audio device) | DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card |
macOS (OS X) | ||
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Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | 10.6.4 | |
Processor (CPU) | Dual core Intel processor, 2GHz or better | |
System memory (RAM) | 2 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 13 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATi Radeon HD 2400 Pro NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
Linux | ||
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Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | Ubuntu 12.04 | |
Processor (CPU) | Dual core from Intel at 2.8 GHz Dual core from AMD at 2.8 GHz |
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System memory (RAM) | 2 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 13 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600 NVIDIA GeForce 8600/9600GT OpenGL 2.1 compatible |
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Sound (audio device) | OpenAL Compatible Sound Card | |
Other | (Graphic Drivers: nVidia 310, AMD 12.11) |
- Not supported: OS X 10.5.x (Leopard), ATI X1600 or X1900 graphics, NVIDIA GeForce 7 graphics or Intel graphics less than Intel HD 3000.
References
- Windows
- OS X
- Linux
- Games
- Invalid template usage (Series)
- Invalid template usage (Availability)
- Invalid template usage (Fixbox)
- Invalid section order
- Local multiplayer games
- Self-hosting
- Invalid template usage (Network)
- Invalid template usage (VR support)
- VR games
- Invalid template usage (API)
- Missing section (Video)
- Missing section (Input)
- Missing section (Audio)