Check out the blog post from Valve:

We are releasing the Left 4 Dead 2 Authoring Tools and Left 4 Dead 2 Add-on Support today.

PLAYERS: If you are not looking to design but play custom campaigns all you need to do is install the add-on support package. Just go into steam and open up the Tools tab. Look for the entry labeled Left 4 Dead 2 - Add-on Support click and install it. This download is sizable, but will update your L4D2 installation to allow running ANY map, including custom maps made for the original Left 4 Dead. Once installed, you do not need to run this application, it will always be active.

We will be updating the Left 4 Dead 2 game UI to include links to this package when applicable but for now please just download it directly. If you see any missing textures or models from your favorite map let us know in the forums.

Sign-ups for Infected Cup 3 have officially opened on our forums.  A community poll decided that the event would be played on Scavenge mode and I have decided that it will be bo5 format.  Sign-ups close Sunday, January 10th at midnight EST.  The event will start on the 11th, one week prior to the conclusion of Newegg's Wanfest, and should be mainly done by the time of the start of the Alienware event. Get your team signed up ASAP since we may have to cut off entries after a certain point (for even brackets).

I will be taking the 2 matches in each bracket. Next week I will take the one and then if I see a good losers bracket.


Bracket A

It's on my face! > Richard 4 Life - With It's on my faces upset of the week by beating blight.dpv I give the the win on this one. However Richard 4 Life could be another sleeper team waiting to show that they are here for keeps!

Derogate < Blight.nao - The 2nd Blight held up to my predictions and were victorious. I give them the win here over derogate.

Bracket B

Area 51 Gaming > Balls of Strong Steel - Area 51 gaming with FOOL AS A STARTER should have no issue kicking the opponents in the balls.

Immortal 7 > All 4 Dead - Could be a really good match if A4D brings their A game (or if the director chooses sides). I give I7 the win because of their skill in past l4d1, however this is vanilla so you never know.

Bracket C

Hex > Team Minority - HeX with a HUGE upset over my favored Domination, (although it says overturned so I don't know if it was a dispute victory). However I still give them the win.

Impracticable Project < eXcessive Gaming - I give this win to eXcessive Gaming, but It could very well being a close one as Impracticable Project beat out Black Ops Squadron.

Bracket D

v i r (ai) > Stock. - Could be a match of the week, also could be a vanilla upset for v i r. Fortyse7ens dream I feel is going to be cut short by Super Ky and co.

Detox Gaming > Team Pathogen - Detox has some solid people on their roster, and Team Pathogen seems to be just starting, I give Detox the win.

Bracket E

Team Mother Teresa > Not Now Woman - Mother Teresa is my favorite to win this bracket, so I give them an easy win until next week

Team Random Acts of Violence  < Team Shark Week - with a big win over The Avengers, Team Shark Week is looking to make a name for themselves, and I see them getting a chance next week when they play MT2

Bracket F

Vortex > HonorLost - Vortex gets an easy win over a team led by SmokeyMcPot.

Frx. > crUcial Gaming - Frx. Is my favorite to win this bracket, but it will be a great match next week when they play Vortex.

Bracket G

Blight.rage > H20|Omega - Another Blight team keeping true to my predicitons hopefully they won't upset me.

FUBAR < Right 2 Live - Right 2 Live had a big Victory over iono. They are another team trying to make a name for themselves and I feel they can do the same this week over FUBAR

Bracket H

Eximius Sports > Negativ - Eximius Sports is all that needs to be said really

Zer0 Tolerance < SotA: Lithium - This game is a toss up, I have no information on either team, but SotA beat dropouts by a lot so I give them the win.

Early in 2009, CommL4D hosted three tournaments to kick off the competitive scene for L4D1. These tournaments were named the Infected Cup 1, the RIP CAL tournament, and the Infected Cup 2. All three greatly impacted the development of competitive L4D1. Now that L4D2 is out and on its way...it is time for Infected Cup 3.

Essentially Infected Cup 3 will be a double elimination L4D2 tournament with two matches a week. No anti-cheat, no fancy match scheduling system, no guaranteed prizes (this could change depending on interest), and no bullshit. This will be a tournament, like the ones in the past, run by the community for the community. It will serve to help kick off the game in a competitive sense and will give the gaming world an idea of how viable this game is (relative to L4D1) for leagues and tournaments.

We are looking to open signups early this next week, run them until around the weekend after new years, and run the event from the 11th til the beginning of February. What I am looking for in this thread is a vote for Scavenge or Versus. This is going to decide the tournament's format...nothing else will.  Be sure to vote for your favorite game mode and then voice your opinion about other aspects of the tournament.

Alienware has announced their winter L4D2 tournament.  And you can guarantee that with 1500 dollars at stake, this one will bring in the masses.

EVENT DETAILS: