EA and Valve Software Enter Half-Life Agreement (Xbox)The publisher has gained rights to distribute the Xbox version of Half-Life 2.By Eduardo Vasconcellos | July 18, 2005According to a report on Gamespot.com, Electronic Arts has announced that it will be the worldwide publisher of Half-Life 2 for the Xbox.According to the new agreement, Valve Software will be publishing all of its PC titles, while allowing EA to "deliver a collection of Valve games to players worldwide.""We consider Half-Life and Counter-Strike to be two of the best game franchises of all time," said Tom Frisina, Vice President and General Manager of EA Partners. "We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to help deliver these outstanding games to players around the globe."Valve founder and president Gabe Newell had similarly kind words. "By combining EA's unparalleled operation structure and distribution channel with Valve's award-winning development teams and games community," said Valve founder and president Gabe Newell. "We've established an awesome combination for delivering great products to console and PC gamers around the world."The new contract is only applicable to the boxed retail editions of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source and does not cover the digitally downloaded versions of the game available through Valve's online service Steam. Half-Life 2 for the Xbox is expected to be released this October.
