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Left 4 Dead 2

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Revision as of 18:34, 9 November 2016 by Anonymous (talk | contribs) (Undo revision 295197 by 85.107.171.232 (talk))
Template:Infobox game/row/linporter
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 cover
Developers
Valve Corporation
Publishers
Valve Corporation
Engines
Source
Release dates
Windows November 19, 2009
macOS (OS X) October 5, 2010
Linux May 3, 2013
Left 4 Dead 2 guide on StrategyWiki
Left 4 Dead 2 on Wikipedia

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
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
Retail
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Incorrect store name. See here for available options.
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
All versions require Steam DRM.

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
-w X -h Y Sets screen resolution (or window resolution if using -window). Example: -w 1920 -h 1080.
-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
Instructions

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Steam Cloud settings are stored in <Steam-folder>/userdata/<user-id>/550/remote/.
It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Template: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

Input settings

In-game control settings.
In-game control settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.

Template:Input settings

Mouse+Keyboard in split-screen

Instructions

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Hungarian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish

Network

In-game multiplayer settings.
In-game multiplayer settings.

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
2 Co-op
See Local play.
LAN play
8 Co-op, Versus
Co-op (4 players) or "Versus" mode (up to 4v4 Survivors vs. Infected).
Online play
8 Co-op, Versus
Co-op (4 players) or "Versus" mode (up to 4v4 Survivors vs. Infected).

Connection types

Type Native Notes
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)
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

VR support

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
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Middleware

Middleware Notes
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

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

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 at your discretion.

Graphics

UI

Audio

Gameplay

Third person support

The game in third person.
The game in third person.
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
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

Enabling HBAO+ for NVIDIA graphics cards

Use the Ambient Occlusion flag 0x00000014 with Quality or High Quality.
Instructions

Remove item/character glows

Some players may wish to remove the item glows and/or character glows since they are unrealistic and makes knowing where other players/items are too easy.

In the root directory, in the "cfg" folder, in the "autoexec.cfg" file in Notepad, add these lines. If there is no "autoexe.cfg" file, then copy and paste "autoexec.360" and rename it.

Copy and paste the following lines:

//Glow of barfed survivors
cl_glow_survivor_vomit_b 0
cl_glow_survivor_vomit_g 0
cl_glow_survivor_vomit_r 0

//Glow of survivors
cl_glow_survivor_b 0
cl_glow_survivor_g 0
cl_glow_survivor_r 0

//Glow of incapped survivors
cl_glow_survivor_hurt_b 0
cl_glow_survivor_hurt_g 0
cl_glow_survivor_hurt_r 0

//Glow of items after you are in black and white mode (after 3rd incap)
cl_glow_thirdstrike_item_b 0
cl_glow_thirdstrike_item_g 0
cl_glow_thirdstrike_item_r 0

//GLOW from FAR distance:
cl_glow_item_far_b 0
cl_glow_item_far_g 0
cl_glow_item_far_r 0

//GLOW from UP CLOSE:
cl_glow_item_b 0
cl_glow_item_g 0
cl_glow_item_r 0

cl_glow_ability_r 0
cl_glow_ability_g 0
cl_glow_ability_b 0

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium IV 3.0 GHz
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
Sound (audio device) DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
macOS (OS X)
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
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
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
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