Valve secretly leaked a Left 4 Dead 2 trailer to dodge the ESRB
Summary
In 2009, Valve secretly leaked the trailer for their game Left 4 Dead 2 to avoid restrictions from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which had rules against showing explicit violence and language in game trailers. This strategy helped the trailer spread online even though it was not officially allowed by the ESRB.Key Facts
- Valve created a fake leak of the Left 4 Dead 2 trailer because the ESRB would not approve the official release due to violent and graphic content.
- The ESRB is an organization that rates video games for age appropriateness and controls how games are marketed in stores.
- At the time, game publishers needed ESRB ratings to sell their games in major stores.
- Valve had previously modified Left 4 Dead 2’s box art after the ESRB objected to a graphic image of fingers.
- The ESRB also banned other game trailers in 2007 for showing too much violence or offensive content.
- Valve’s leak was a way to bypass ESRB’s advertising rules while still getting attention for the game online.
- Some players suspected the leak was planned because it spread quickly and seemed too organized.
- Valve writer Chet Faliszek confirmed the leak happened intentionally to avoid trouble with ESRB restrictions.
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