An unofficial project to fully remake theHalf-LifeBlue ShiftDLC is currently in development by a team of fans, and the next chapter is due to release this month. Considered by many to beone of the most important FPS gamesof all time, Valve’s original 1998 release helped shape the genre in its early days, building off the blueprints ofDoomandQuakeand making an overnight success of the young studio. Not long afterHalf-Life, a number of expansions were also released,Blue Shiftbeing one of them.
Although the classic sci-fi shooter has aged over the years, it has remained as influential now as it was nearly two and a half decades ago. In fact, afan remake ofHalf-LifecalledBlack Mesawas launched, initially as a free mod, in 2012 before Valve gave permission for it to be a commercial release, with the full product coming out in March 2020. Developed by Crowbar Collective, the project was a complete do-over of the original title, bringing the retro FPS into the modern era with more advanced visuals, new voice acting, and some changes to the format that kept those familiar withHalf-Lifeon their toes.
RELATED:Half-Life Mod Rewards Players With A New Ending If They Carry A Box
Now a team known as HECU Collective is getting ready to launch the next chapter in its unofficial remake ofBlue Shift, one of the expansions released forHalf-Life. Much like the original DLC, this remake will tell the story of Barney Calhoun, the plucky security guard who follows Gordon Freeman during his exploits throughout the Black Mesa research facility in the first game and City 17 in the sequel. Chapter four of HECU’s version will be releasing on December 10 and will also come with bug fixes and “additional features for previous chapters.”
TheHalf-LifeBlue Shiftremakehas already had its first three chapters released, and the entire project is free to download. It utilizes assets from theBlack Mesaremake, with the team saying it will attempt to stay faithful to the original expansion, which came out in 2001 and was developed by Gearbox Software, the studio that would eventually go on to bring the worldDuke NukemandAliens: Colonial Marines.
For many, the fan remake ofBlue Shiftwill be exciting, but wheneverHalf-Lifeis brought up in conversation, there’s always that one topic that will never go away. Asone of the most anticipated threequelsin gaming history,Half-Life 3is still nowhere to be seen. Of course, unofficial projects are always welcomed by the community, but a third installment in Valve’s iconic series is ultimately what many are still hoping for.
Half-Lifeis available on PC and PS2.
