Leaked Half-Life Beta Reveals Cut Content and Unseen Levels from 1998

An old beta version of Half-Life, containing previously cut content, has surfaced online. This leaked build, dated October 1998, predates the official release of Half-Life by just a few weeks.

November 19 marks the 26th anniversary of Half-Life, Valve's first game, which remains one of the most influential first-person shooters in gaming history. In the final stages of development, Valve was focused on polishing the game's PvP multiplayer mode, which they worked on right up until its release.

Half-Life Beta Build Containing Cut Content Leaks Online

A glimpse into this final development phase has now appeared online, thanks to a discovery by game researcher Frogsnatcher. This pre-release build was found on an old CD dated October 20, 1998, approximately a month before Half-Life hit store shelves. The disc, labeled "net test 2," suggests that this version was primarily intended for testing multiplayer functionality before the game's official release. However, the most notable difference between the leaked beta and the final version of the game isn't multiplayer-related—it’s the inclusion of a cut single-player level called "The Communications Center."

This level was initially designed to be the original version of Forget About Freeman, Chapter 13 in the final game. According to earlier reports, Valve engineers John Guthrie and Kelly Bailey were behind its creation. In this beta, the level is largely static, except for a scripted radar dish that was meant to rotate. Other levels in the leaked build show minor scripting differences compared to the finished product, but nothing particularly significant, according to Frogsnatcher.

Leaked Half-Life Beta Build Comes With a Time Bomb

Although Frogsnatcher shared a dump of the 1998 beta disc, playing it is not as simple as just launching the game. The beta includes a time-bomb code that prevents it from being played after a certain date. However, Frogsnatcher found an easy workaround by setting their system’s date to sometime in October 1998. Fans who have tested the build also noted that it only runs in Windows ME Compatibility Mode.

Frogsnatcher also discovered unused textures in the beta, including variations in weapon designs. For example, the beta version of the crossbow has a slightly different bolt-mounting mechanism. Additionally, a static model of Stukabat, a flying alien enemy that was cut during the final stages of Half-Life’s development, was found in this net test build.

This beta build offers a fascinating look into Half-Life’s development and shows some of the features that didn’t make it into the final release.