Half-Life 2, the much hyped sequel to Half-Life, which won over 50 game of the year awards and was named 'best PC game ever' by PC Gamer Magazine, was released today.

Developed by Valve, this first-person shooter is one of the most widely anticipated games of all time. It has been repeatedly delayed beyond the projected release date of September 30, 2003, not least because of a leak of source code last year.

Half-Life 2 requires players to activate their copy of the game through Valve's authentication servers, in an effort to prevent piracy and leakage. Half-Life's servers have been overwhelmed in the stampede to complete the authentication process, a necessary step before owners of retail copies can play. So patience is advised. Half-Life 2's official website. ®

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