Left 4 Dead 2

This page details one or more prototype versions of Left 4 Dead 2.

July 20th, 2009Dated just under four months before release, nearly identical to early footage released around this time. August 6th, 2009 August 27th, 2009 September 1st, 2009A build which is very similar to the Dark Carnival demo shown at PAX 2009. September 2nd, 2009Basically identical to the previous build, compiled only a day later. September 25th, 2009 October 1st, 2009 October 19th, 2009 October 20th, 2009 October 21, 2009 (Retail 1.0.1.0)

2010#

These builds are prototypes of the DLC in development after the game's official release, The Passing and The Sacrifice.

April 2nd, 2010 April 10th, 2010 July 6th, 2010A prototype for The Sacrifice from three months before release.

Test Maps#

To do: This is a "scratch" version of this section. Everything needs to be elaborated on a bit more.

Several maps exist only in these prototype builds, but appear in development builds even after the game was released. These maps were used by Valve developers for stylistic guidance towards levels in the game in addition to testing functional properties. These maps were initially leaked in 2013, four years after the release of the game:

test_box2#

A medium-sized base with a shotgun pickup. This level first appears in the July 20, 2009 prototype.

test_mall#

An early design for the mall atrium, presumably created purely as a style guide. It is built entirely on assets from The Parish and the original Left 4 Dead. Some item pickups can be found on the second floor. This level first appears in July 20, 2009 prototype.

test_macguffin#

A level full of weapons and miscellaneous items. The contents sometimes vary by build: for example, one build has the Laser Sights upgrade, which is missing from every other build. Notably, every version of the level contains the scrapped diesel fuel cans as pickups, which only work in the August 6, 2009 prototype due to it being the only one with the item implemented. This level first appears in the August 6, 2009 prototype.

test_scavenge#

A small base with a generator, an L-shaped wall, and sixteen gas cans. This level first appears in the September 25, 2009 prototype.

styleguide_semiurban_01#

First appears in Jul 20

styleguide_swamp_01#

First appears in Jul 20

styleguide_swamp_cheapwater01#

First appears in Jul 20

styleguide_urban_01#

First appears in Jul 20

zoo_infected2#

A zoo level for Survivors and Infected. While the appearance of Common and Uncommon Infected are seemingly based on their presence and models in Left 4 Dead 2, the Special Infected and Survivors are based on the original game, missing the Charger, Spitter, and Jockey, and using Zoey, Bill, Francis, and Louis over the actual cast. This level is volatile - many models may disappear or crash the game, especially the Left 4 Dead Survivors: for example, Bill may be the only Survivor present from one prototype and then the only Survivor missing in the next. The level is extremely prone to crashing, sometimes making the game close before it even finishes loading. This level first appears in the July 20, 2009 prototype.

zoo_swamp_foliage_01#

First appears in Jul 20

zoo_urban_foliage_01#

First appears in Jul 20

zoo_trafficsigns#

First appears in Sep 1

zoo_carnivalgames#

First appears in Sep 25

navigationtest_a#

Not sure but appears later than others

motionprimingtest#

Not sure but appears later than others