Left 4 Dead dev teams with THQ for multiplayer-focused FPS

By Adam Rosenberg Published May 27, 2011

left-4-dead — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Left 4 Dead remains one of the most innovative first-person shooters out there, a co-op driven multiplayer game that has its enemy, weapon and tool placements orchestrated by an A.I. Director designed to keep pressure on the players without overwhelming them… too often. Also, there are zombies by the the thousands. Never a bad thing. The game is the work of Turtle Rock Studios, which was acquired by Valve Corporation shortly before the 2008 release. Turtle Rock later reformed last year and has been working quietly on… something. We don’t know what that “something” is yet, but we do now know that THQ will be publishing it.

A press release confirms that Turtle Rock Studios is set to drop this mysterious game in 2013 in a partnership with THQ. There’s no word on how Valve’s past relationship with the studio factors in, if at all. Very few specific details have been revealed, though we do know that it is a first-person shooter and multiplayer will be a focus. Neither fact should come as a surprise to fans of L4D.

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“This project is the most ambitious thing we’ve ever attempted, and we’re inspired by the support THQ has shown to help us realize that vision. We’re going to take the first person shooter experience to a whole new level, and we can’t wait to show the game for the first time in the months ahead,” Turtle Rock chief operations officer Phil Robb said in a statement.

THQ Core Games exec Danny Bilson added a bit more detail. “Turtle Rock Studios is responsible for one of the most original, critically acclaimed cooperative games of this generation, and we are incredibly excited to be working with them on their next project, which looks set to make a similar impact in the multiplayer space.”

All we know beyond that is there won’t be a reveal at E3 next month, according to the press release.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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