To celebrate Half-Life's 25th anniversary, Valve made the game free on Steam until today

Valve commemorated the 25th anniversary of Half-Life on Sunday by making the game free to own on Steam for a limited time and launching a significant anniversary update. This update includes Steam Deck verification, improved graphic settings, new multiplayer maps, among other enhancements. The 100% discount is active until November 20 at 1pm Eastern, and claimants can retain the game permanently if it is acquired before the deadline.

The update and giveaway apply to the base game of Half-Life. However, it's worth noting that the original title received two expansions developed by Gearbox Software: Opposing Force (1999) and Blue Shift (2001). These expansions introduced new protagonists and enriched the Half-Life universe.

In addition to the game updates and giveaway, Valve has released a new 65-minute documentary to mark the 25th anniversary. This film features conversations with developers and Valve co-founders, exploring the company's early days and their experiences working on Half-Life.