Left 4 Dead 2 announced

During Microsoft’s pre-E3 media briefing it has been announced that Left 4 Dead 2 will be released exclusively for Xbox 360 and PC on November 17, 2009.

“A large part of how Left 4 Dead became 2008’s top-selling new IP on Xbox 360 and the PC was the custom-tailored gameplay made possible by the AI Director,” said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. “With the knowledge gained from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set a new benchmark for cooperative action games.”

The title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more.

Valve has also announced the AI Director 2.0, promising to take L4D’s dynamic gameplay to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players’ performance.

We’re also promised new survivors, boss zombies, weapons and items, and a much larger game than the original – more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch.