As preparations for the upcoming Steam Deck launch proceed apace, Valve has quietly launched a beta replace for Half-Life 2 that rejuvenates its interface to make it extra accessible on the upcoming handheld—and on fashionable desktop shows.
The replace was seen and shared on Twitter by gabefollower—after all—who additionally supplied directions on entry it. The replace hasn’t been totally rolled out at this level, so you will want to leap into Half-Life 2’s properties in Steam (right-click Half-Life 2 in your Steam library, then left-click “properties” within the pop-up menu), hit the “Betas” tab, after which choose “beta updates” from the dropdown. You will additionally want so as to add “-gamepadui” (with out the quotes) to the “Launch choices” subject within the basic tab.
As soon as that is carried out, fireplace up Half-Life 2 and you will discover a few massive modifications. Steam Deck might be the principle impetus for the overhaul, but it surely’s a boon for anybody on a 4K show too. I hadn’t realized this (it has been ages since I’ve performed Half-Life 2) however the inventory interface is borderline unusable on fashionable screens:
The brand new look is rather more sensible:
Gabefollower additionally prompt that the replace itself was both made by someone in the modding community, or that somebody from the neighborhood “helped Valve wrap it up.” No names are given—gabefollower stated he is leaving it to the makers “to announce it themselves” in the event that they need to—however the implication appears to be that Black Mesa studio Crowbar Collective had a hand in it.
It looks as if that is made by somebody from neighborhood, or somebody from neighborhood helped Valve wrap it up, and I most likely know who 👀 https://t.co/dUTvbHj3xPJanuary 26, 2022
A contemporary search for a recreation that is pushing 20 years outdated is uncommon to say the least, and particularly one which holds such an vital place in gaming historical past. However this is not the primary current replace to Half-Life 2 geared toward sprucing it up for each very small and really high-resolution shows: In October 2021, Valve rolled out a patch that increased the FOV cap, added ultrawide help to the UI, and glued some bugs.
Regardless of these updates, Half-Life 2 is just not at present among the many video games listed as Steam Deck verified, however that course of continues to be within the early phases. It would little question ramp up quickly: Valve introduced right this moment that the Steam Deck will start delivery on February 28.
