Can you please explain to me what will be the differences between the (new) free version and the paid version of Black Mesa?
Are there graphical improvements (what kind of?) or are also the xen levels going to be exclusive?
Thanks!
From what I understand, the free version and the paid version will both be released with Xen. However, because they have access to the latest engine build for it, the paid version will have graphical improvements and possibly a few new features to go with it.
I see.
Thanks for the quick answer!
Well I will buy the Steam version anyway (to support the devs), but I really would like to get an idea about what kind of graphical improvements we are going to see in the Steam version. One example would be nice.
I believe they were planning on adding volumetric lighting or fog or something…
They are re-doing a lot of models as well, and those will only be in the paid version.
See this. Brian’s Black Mesa Improvement Project.
The free version is basically the mod release, ported to a new engine, with some bug fixes. That’s mostly it.
The paid version, obviously, gets everything we’re doing. That includes MP, constant updates, improved graphics (not just world props; we’ve got a few new weapon models, animations, particle fx, sounds, to name but a few), new features, active development, workshop, among many other things.
Cool News 
Aaand now I need to change my pants. :jizz:
The next question would be can we have BOTH the free AND paid versions on the same machine??? Will there be some sort of difference (I assume a different game number for startup) that will allow both???
But then again PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY!!!
I don’t see why you would not be able to get a mod running alongside a purchased game.
Wait, wait, wait, what about Xen?
I’m actually unsure about this. I’ll ask your-name-here, he’s our release engineer/lead programmer. We have no plans to do anything to make that not possible, but you never know with the weird world of Steam! Not sure why you would want both if you’re getting the paid version, but no problem.
What’s Xen?
To quote cman2k in November of 2013:
Seems to imply that the Steam release will happen first (whenever it’s ready), with Xen coming still later. He refers to the Steam release as “soon” elsewhere in his post, so if Xen was “a long way off,” I think we can expect to wait a while yet.
Edit: That’s all assuming plans haven’t changed. This is just the last news we’ve heard on the subject, to my knowledge.
How has the progress been since last year? You don’t have to give any details I’m just curious as to how much you guys have done in the last year. Keep up the good work can’t wait for Xen.
Please PLEASE please do NOT make any statements about xen folks. We appreciate the dedication and I know everyone is dying for information on it or perhaps a tidbit spoiler of some sort, but Xen projections should all come with a disclaimer.
Guesses turn into assumptions, assumptions turn into facts, and facts turn into broken promises. Yet none of this is done by the dev team. A prime example of this scenario was the “Release date” from long ago. While there was only one date we ever offered as a release date, (and to our sadness, we missed that date) all through the web you saw angry people saying we kept missing release date after date after date.
So to be clear:
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The existing free mod release is as it stands. While we all know plans can change, we are pretty confident in saying that at this time there are no plans to upgrade or add to the “mod” release.
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The “retail” release or Steam version (yes, you will finally get to throw us some change) is is going to have upgrades, bug fixes, a multiplayer addon, and a port to a new engine. That said, because it is a steam version, this also means that any additional fixes or add ons after the initial launch can be done on the fly. No more sending you off to other websites to download patches or upgrade to newer versions. That is the beauty of Steam that we all appreciate.
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Now regarding the 4 Xen chapters; They are not currently slotted to be included in the mod release or the steam release. You see, it isn’t that we are done with it and are just holding onto it for some special occasion or to tease our beloved fans mercilessly. Far from it. It means it is simply not done, and we are unwilling to slate it for any of our release projects at this time.
So until a developer comes along and says there is a release date for Xen, please recognize Xen as a different game all together, and that it will be released when it is done.
Believe it or not, we have different folks on the team working on different aspects. Some for Xen, some for multiplayer and some for the SP. So while some info has recently come out on multiplayer, Xen information is strictly forbidden to the public.
Trust us tho… when it happens, it is going to be amazing. :jizz:
That’s great I can’t wait to play Black Mesa with the bug fixes and it’s great to hear significant progress has been made! Also I didn’t ask about Xen since it’s obviously not coming out for a while. 
Have their been any patches made public to the current release of Black Mesa to fix the more annoying bugs like the broken Mortar Map and Garg AI in surface tension and the extreme lag when loading a Lamda core save?. While screenshots of newly remodeled props are fun to look at it doesn’t help those who want replay black mesa in it’s current form.
You’ll just have to wait until after the steam version is released.
I think perhaps that is probably the hardest part about this whole project. I see the dev team working furiously every. dad. gum. splendiferous. day, but of course the public doesn’t see it. We all totally get why folks might wonder if there really is movement going on, and we wont begrudge a fan if they poke their head in once in a while to ask of all is well.
But yes… all is well, every day there is work being done, and I don’t see anyone slowing down. :3