Here’s everything we know about Left 4 Dead 3, the next entry in Valve’s acclaimed multiplayer franchise. The original Left 4 Dead was a cooperative shooter that pit four playable characters against hordes of zombies and monsters. The design of Left 4 Dead encouraged players to work together with certain enemies requiring teamwork to overcome. The gameplay was also overseen by an A.I. Director, which adjusted the challenge on the fly to keep things fresh. Left 4 Dead made for an intense, adrenaline-soaked experience and is still regarded as one of Valve’s best games.
Valve aren’t exactly known for rushing out sequels, so it came as a shock when Left 4 Dead 2 was released in 2009 – only a year after the original. Some fans questioned the logic of this, feeling the sequel did little to improve upon the first game aside from new weapons and challenges. That said, the sequel was another refined multiplayer experience. Just like other classic Valve franchises the series has yet to receive a third installment, despite fans pining for one.
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Here’s everything we know about Left 4 Dead 3 so far and the rumors that swirl around the project.
Left 4 Dead 3 Doesn’t Have A Release Date
Left 4 Dead 3 joins Half-Life 3 and Portal 3 in a state of limbo-like existence. It’s close to a decade since the last game and while fans may have complained Left 4 Dead 2 came too fast, they certainly can’t make that claim about Left 4 Dead 3. One of the reasons Valve games used to take so long was due to the developer playtesting and refining each title to within an inch of their life and if they found something wasn’t working, they’d cut it.
This process could be frustrating to fans but that’s part of the reason their games are held in high regard. Valve has since spent most of the last decade focused on digital distribution platform Steam, with games development put largely on hold. Valve founder Gabe Newell revealed in 2018 the company was making and shipping games again, leading to the release of Artifact later that year. While this announcement gave fans hope it’s been a long time since anything relating to Left 4 Dead 3 has been discussed.
Left 4 Dead 3 Has Never Been Officially Confirmed
Outside of rumors and supposedly leaked screenshots, Valve has never confirmed Left 4 Dead 3 even exists. A tour of Valve’s Seattle office in 2012 allegedly showed Left 4 Dead 3 on an internal log, a 2016 rumor suggested the game was gearing up for a 2017 release and another 2018 rumor suggested Turtle Rock was working on it. That last report was later debunked and while it seems Valve were working on the title at one point, there’s currently no sign of life on the project.
Left 4 Dead 3 Has No Trailer
Since the existence of Left 4 Dead 3 is somewhat debatable, there’s currently no trailer for the game. Technically, the last title in the series was the 2014 Japanese arcade game Left 4 Dead: Survivors. This title is basically Left 4 Dead 2 but with unique survivors designed to appeal to a Japanese audience, including a bartender, high school student, and an American-Japanese tour guide. While the game is a decent arcade experience, Survivors is essentially an inferior version of Left 4 Dead 2.
There Are Lots Of Rumors Surrounding Left 4 Dead 3
Much of what’s known about Left 4 Dead 3 amounts to hearsay. Reports suggest one version was built using the Source 2.0 game engine and featured multiple paths, weapons crafting and character customization. The game was also said to allow virtual reality play. Since none of these reports about Left 4 Dead 3 came from Valve, they should be treated with a large dose of salt. That said, rumors suggest Valve might be experimenting with a VR Half-Life prequel so there could be hope for the series yet.