In a recent showing of their popular PC and Xbox 360 zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead, Valve’s Marketing VP Doug Lombardi let the world know that they weren’t developing a PS3 version of the game. However, he did leave hope that the game could be ported to the PS3. 

When asked if EA would be porting the game over to the PS3, much like they did with The Orange Box, Lombardi replied,

Left 4 Dead doesn’t have that guaranteed appeal yet – it’s a new IP. If you mention a new Half-Life, people want to make as many versions of it as possible. If Left 4 Dead is big, then we may see a PS3 version later, or if and when we do a sequel, people may be more interested in that.

Lombardi went on to say,

We’re only 150 people, so there’s only so many things we can do. But it’s one of those things with partners, wanting to take on that investment and risk. I think until L4D is proven, you’ll probably just see what we make in that franchise.

It seems as though much of the concern with developing a PS3 version is the financial risk and Valve doesn’t want to have any part of it. Hopefully, Left 4 Dead does well on the PC and Xbox 360 to allow the possibility for a PS3 port.

Sources: CVG.com and PS3fanboy.com

In response to a barrage of vitriol from one less than happy chap on the Steam forums, a Valve rep had this to say:

I am sorry that you are unsatisfied with your game. I hope that we will be able to correct any major issues in the future.

A prelude to Valve forcing EA London – who were responsible for developing the PS3 port – to pull their finger out and release a patch perhaps? It looks more likely when, in another thread over on Steam about The Orange Box’s poor audio, a second Valve rep weighs in with:

We’re working on getting the optical cable support into an update. I’ll post when I have details.

No details as to what ‘an update’ means as yet, but improving those Half Life framerates and actually letting us into the Team Fortress 2 lobby, certainly would be a good way to enter the New Year.

Check out the rant and the other thread.