Rely on Horror: "Good things come in 3s, Valve."
Half-Life and Portal writer Erik Wolpaw has detailed how his team has been using Generative AI for research and development at Valve.
Valve has responded to New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit against the firm, stating it does not believe that lootboxes in its Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2 games unlawfully encourage minors to gamble, adding it was "disappointed" to see the action go ahead despite efforts to "educate" the NYAG about virtual items since "early 2023."
I'd like to see left4dead 3 but I've been waiting longer for half life 3 and l4d2 and l4d1 still do a great job of scratching that itch. By the time you consider maps and custom content then you've got games with serious longevity. Unless valve comitted to something entirely new there's simply no need.
IMO valve succeed in taking sequels in totally new directions. L4d3 should consider being really out there. Taking the spirit of left4dead and taking it somewhere new. Try larger battles, more extreme director control, more fear, different modes. I'm talking about a seriously big gap because, like I said before, l4d1 and 2 still scratch the itch pretty damn well.
But really I think left4dead needs time. Time will pass and l4d and l4d2 will grow really outdated. With time new technologies will open extreme new gameplay designs and that, infused with better graphics, would give you a solid reason to invest the time into making the game. Between here and then however valve may want to do something about the fact their silent approach to game development has stopped being cute. What with it being a fucking century since we've heard anything about half life. Meanwhile Gabe Newell has increasingly stopped looking like a chubby harmless nerd and more like a hairy meatball of frustrating apathy.
The Black Box:
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Episode 1
Half Life 2: Episode 2
Half Life 2: Episode 3
Portal 1
Portal 2 (With all DLC)
Left 4 Dead 1 (With all DLC)
Left 4 Dead 2 (With all DLC)
Left 4 Dead 3
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Retail Price - $60.
What about Portal 3?
Heck, I wouldn't even mind 'em tossing out new IPs.
Distinguish themselves from Blizzard with their little holy trinity.