# Half-Life changelog > Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to… - Vendor: Valve - Category: Games - Official site: http://www.half-life.com/ - Tracked by: What's New (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life) - Harvested from: Steam (app 70) - Entries below: 15 (newest first) What's New is an index, not a publisher: every entry below links to the vendor's own release notes, which are the authoritative source. Entries are labelled where they are hand-curated sample data, pre-releases, or drawn from a secondary source such as a developer blog. ## Releases ### October 2, 2024 Update - Date: 2024-10-02 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/4690026640903306459 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-4690026640903306459 - Fixed HLTV startup crashes and incompatibility with 25th anniversary maps. - Fixed memory leak that caused a crash after repeatedly changing brightness or gamma. - Enabled /LARGEADDRESSAWARE to support mods with large memory requirements.. - Miscellaneous mod compatibility fixes. - Miscellaneous security fixes. ### December 22, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-12-22 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/3875975012115563313 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-3875975012115563313 - Fixed multiplayer team setup in Disposal. - Fixed Tau Cannon shots always counting as headshots if they reflected off a wall and hit the player who fired. - Fixed several minor HUD layout issues. - Miscellaneous security fixes. ### December 12, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-12-12 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/3884981125546981742 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-3884981125546981742 - Fixes for joining games through invites and Steam friends list. - Miscellaneous UI fixes for Dedicated Servers. - Fixed an occasional crash when opening the scoreboard. - Fixed camera movement after death in multiplayer. - Fixed crash when creating a server if the server creator's Steam name was entirely non-ASCII characters. ### December 1, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-12-01 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/5458988598256170378 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-5458988598256170378 - Fixed crash when modifying certain video settings in a multiplayer match. - Fixed server browser issues after modifying video settings. - Fixed local player not showing up in player count on a listen server using Steam Networking. - Fixed rare corrupted lighting rendering bug in some maps. ### November 29, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-11-29 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/3877099009347372476 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-3877099009347372476 - Fixed lighting rendering issues on some AMD GPUs. - Fixed mods with their own localization files not loading default strings from updated localization files in Half-Life. - Fixed one dying scientist in Half-Life: Uplink saying incorrect dialogue. - Added "Use shaders" checkbox for the video options. Servers can over-ride this setting with sv_allow_shaders. - Fixed weapons with secondary ammo (like the MP5) not being deployable if there is no primary ammo remaining. - Miscellaneous Steam Networking fixes. - The Half-Life dedicated server application (app 90) has been updated with latest server code and updated windows and linux binaries. Updating dedicated servers is recommended. ### November 22, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-11-22 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/3877098283535054951 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-3877098283535054951 - Fixed timing for the sequence where a tentacle grabs a scientist in Blast Pit. - Fixed underwater fog rendering in OpenGL. - Fixes for UI layout in mods. - Fixed rare crash that would occur when an RPG rocket was destroyed. - Fixed the audio DSP filter (room_type) not being reset between multiplayer maps. - The Half-Life dedicated server application (app 90) has been updated. - Localization files updated. NOTE: As of today's patch most original GoldSrc mods should now be working. Some, like Counter-Strike, are still being updated as they use old Steam functionality that is incompatible with the current Steam DLLs; an update for Counter-Strike was released today. If you are experiencing compatibility issues in a GoldSrc mod it is suggested that you install the beta "steam_legacy" build of Half-Life (which can be selected in the game's properties page). ### November 21, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-11-21 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/3877098283531477553 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-3877098283531477553 - Fixed Loader model in Disposal being shootable to change its animation. - Minor rendering updates to Pool Party. - Fixed mods defaulting to joystick enabled. - Fixed overlap on centered printed text utilized in some mods. - Many fixes for UI scaling issues in mods, including Team Fortress Classic and Day of Defeat. - Various fixes for Software rendering, including transparent objects on linux and texturing precision everywhere. - Dedicated Servers will no longer default to having Steam Networking Enabled. - Fixes for some GPUs being unable to launch the game. - Trigger hurt entities can no longer heal dead players, for example the healing pools in Pool Party. - When a player dies, make their body non-solid immediately. - Fixed audio lag experienced by some Windows users. NOTE: Many GoldSrc mods, Counter-Strike included, may still have compatibility issues with the updated version of the Half-Life engine. While we work on improving mod support it is advisable to install the beta "steam_legacy" build of Half-Life (which can be selected in the game's properties page) when playing mods. An update for Counter-Strike will be released soon. ### November 19, 2023 Update - Date: 2023-11-19 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/6941797558601476248 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-6941797558601476248 - Steam Networking and Server Browser improvements. - The HUD will no longer scale to 2x size at 1024x768 and 1280x720 resolution. - Fixes for GL Overbright shaders. - Fixes for text alignment in custom in-game menus at various resolutions. - Fixed 357 zoomed crosshair appearing as the wrong texture at the largest screen resolutions. - Fixed some server events that cause crashes with high player counts. - Fixed crash if the user set their Field of View to 0 and then zoomed in with the crossbow. - Fixed window icons drawing inverted for mods. - Fixed the inability to launch Half-Life: Blue Shift and Day of Defeat, as well as many other mods. NOTE: Many GoldSrc mods, Counter-Strike included, may still have compatibility issues with the updated version of the Half-Life engine. While we work on improving mod support it is advisable to install the beta "steam_legacy" build of Half-Life (which can be selected in the game's properties page) when playing mods. ### Half-Life 25th Anniversary Update - Date: 2023-11-17 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/6941797379568863069 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-6941797379568863069 We launched Half-Life on November 19th, 1998. We are very proud of what we built back then and we remain extremely grateful for the community of players who have been enjoying it ever since. The game hasn't received as much attention in recent years as many other titles in our catalog, so we thought this milestone was a great opportunity to spruce up the player experience and add some fun new ways to play the game. ##### The same game you played in 1998 - restored, augmented, and revitalized We created [a new webpage to showcase all the updates in detail](https://half-life.com/halflife25/), but here's a quick rundown of the updates to the base game: • Updated graphics settings, including lighting fixes and an actual widescreen field of view • Controller and Steam Networking support • Steam Deck support - officially Verified! ##### Also including lots of cool new (or restored) content! The 25th Anniversary Update includes added content from Half-Life Uplink as well as four (4!) new multiplayer maps. We've also restored some content for the true nostalgia-seekers, including original main menu artwork and some early prototype player models from the alpha builds of the game. ##### And a short film to mark the occasion [We invited the the original development team to get back together to reminisce about what it was like working on Half-Life all those years ago.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZ3HzvFEto) (For those of us who worked on it, 25 years is, after all, literally half a life.) The fine folks at [Secret Tape](https://www.secrettape.video/) captured the reunion on film. If you're so inclined, please [take a stroll down memory lane with us](https://half-life.com/halflife25/) or just hop back in to the game and enjoy (we hope!) the updates, new maps, and more. Thank you, everyone, truly, for 25 years of Half-Life. For those new to the game, Half-Life is available for free this weekend - grab it now and keep it forever, and [check out discounts on the whole franchise](https://store.steampowered.com/sale/franchise_half-life). ##### Bug Fixes and Change Notes ##### New Content - Now Verified on the Steam Deck (and our native Linux runtime has been set as the default). - Half-Life: Uplink — the original standalone Half-Life demo — has been added to the game, and is accessible through the "New Game" menu. - Added four all-new Half-Life Deathmatch maps: contamination, pool_party, disposal, and rocket_frenzy - Added three old Half-Life Deathmatch maps formerly available only on the "Half-Life: Further Data" CD: doublecross, rust_mill, xen_dm. - Added Ivan the Space Biker, Prototype Barney, Skeleton, and Too Much Coffee Man as player models to Half-Life Deathmatch. - Added dozens of new sprays formerly available only on the "Half-Life: Further Data" CD. - Added support for Steam Networking, allowing easy multiplayer via Steam's Join Game and Invite features. - Added support for Steam Friends Rich Presence, allowing your friends to follow your journey through Black Mesa. ##### Nostalgia - Brought back the original Valve Intro video. Can be skipped with the "-novid" launch command. - Updated main menu to a design inspired by the game's original 1998 main menu. - Changed the default models to the original (non "HD") models. ##### Gameplay Changes - Improved physics for throwing grenades. - Improved randomness for initial spawn points in multiplayer. - Improved satchel charge controls: primary fire now always throws a new satchel, and secondary fire always detonates. - Fixed push-able entity movement being based on framerate. - Fixed players with high framerates freezing in place on death in multiplayer. - Fixed some cases where the player could get stuck in place on level transitions. - Fixed some cases where characters would interrupt important dialogue with their "greetings" dialogue. - Fixed weapon view-bob angles. - Fixed red barrels at the start of Surface Tension not launching _[Truncated at 4000 characters — full notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/6941797379568863069]_ ### Half-Life update released - Date: 2020-08-18 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/4641476065456638961 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-4641476065456638961 An update for Half-Life is now available: ##### Fixes and Updates - Fixed cl_autowepswitch setting not being respected after respawning - Fixed "cl_autowepswitch 1" causing the crowbar to be auto-equipped after spawning - Fixed viewdemo command crashing for certain demo files - Security fix to client disconnect handling - Security fixes to console command handling - Security fix to client/server communications - Security fix to model loading - Security fixes to BSP loading - Added "Leave game" menu option when in a single-player game to exit back to the main menu - Setting cl_autowepswitch to 2 will now enable auto weapon switching on pickup of a better weapon except when holding Primary or Seconday attack ##### Note: This was updated with additional changes: - Security fix to client launching - Security fix to sound file verification ### Half-Life Update Released - Date: 2019-10-25 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/1652185077937752716 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-1652185077937752716 A small Half-Life update is now available that fixes some issues identified after the last release. **General** - Fixed mods not loading when they use certain GameDLL paths - Fixed some resources not downloading properly through FastDL - Fixed gl_texturemode and gl_ansio not updating properly when enabling/disabling Low video quality mode ### Half-Life update released - Date: 2019-10-08 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/1586880891220596671 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-1586880891220596671 An update for Half-Life is now available: ##### Fixes and Updates - Fixed setting monitor refresh rates through -freq when used with -nofbo - Fixed unnecessary texture rescaling with NPOT textures - Fixed slist command, will now show servers on the local network - Fixed erroneous return in SV_ClipToLinks (HL #1685) - Fixed inability to reload a partially empty weapon after reloading a save game - Fixed MP5 spread factor, multiplayer factor was being used for single player and single player for multiplayer - Fixed progress bar for individual files in resource download always showing at 100% - Added auto-saving of several cvars (HL #2237) - Fixed missing localizations in spectator UI - Fixed NPC turn rate when running at >60FPS - Reordered columns in server browser to prevent game descriptions from being used to fake server player count - Fixed sv_cheats from being settable by players in a multiplayer game (sv_cheats is controllable by the server) - Added cl_autowepswitch cvar with values 0/1 to disable/enable auto weapon switching when a new weapon is picked up - Fix various weapon animation/sound issues - Security fixes to console commands - Security fixes to resource loading - Security fixes to saving/loading ### Half-Life updates released - Date: 2019-04-16 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/2882822214124552237 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-2882822214124552237 This list covers the releases between March 20 and April 11 that are each part of a series of security updates. Larger changes: - Added privilege checking to command execution. Commands originating outside of the client are now only able to execute commands that are considered to be safe. Commands such as 'connect', 'bind', 'quit' and certain cvars such as 'cl_filterstuffcmd' are now only executable by trusted sources. - Setting 'cl_filterstuffcmd' to a value greater than zero (e.g. 'cl_filterstuffcmd 1') will set a number of commands that are potentially abusable, such as 'say', 'fps_max', and 'setinfo', to also be only executable by privileged sources. Fixes: - Fixed client incorrectly blocking download of custom sprays Security fixes: - All custom resources downloaded from a server now have their file name's checked for safety before being allowed to download - Invalid file extensions are now prevented in several commands - Dynamic libraries are no longer searched for in custom resource directories - Added additional file extensions to custom resource blocked extensions list - Fixed buffer overflow in message delta parsing - Fixed RCE in weapon message handling - Fixed RCE in model loading - Fixed RCE in saved game loading - Fixed buffer overflows in TGA and BMP loading - Fixed buffer overflow in demo playback - Fixed buffer overflows in sequence file loading - Fixed buffer overflows in model name loading - Fixed buffer overflow in music playlist loading - Fixed buffer overflow in detail texture loading - Fixed buffer overflow in console map listing - Fixed command chaining in cvar's that specified config files to be passed to the 'exec' command ### Half-Life update released - Date: 2018-08-21 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/2882822214124552292 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-2882822214124552292 A small update for Half-Life is now available: Engine - Fixed bug in skybox image loading - Fixed bug in demo command processing - Prevent certain path characters from being used in commands - Enforce certain extensions be used for files specified in some commands ### Half-Life update released - Date: 2017-08-01 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/70/view/2882822214124552347 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/half-life/releases/steam-2882822214124552347 A small update for Half-Life is now available: Engine - Rate limit hltv commands to prevent connection issues