survival horror
Left 4 Dead Gets New Box Art, Completes The Joke
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 6:30 AM on October 1, 2008
Box art disaster averted! The official Left 4 Dead web site features updated box art for Valve's upcoming zombie shooter, ensuring that not a single pun opportunity has been squandered, with a trifecta of wordplay fully realised. We're so glad we were properly prepared for this shocking news. Thanks to Fuga for the eagle-eyed tip.

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Milkzhakes
Posted 7:54 AM 1/10/08
@WhaleMenace: that's telling them. seriously if you dont read the comments then what the hell are you doing in kotaku. thats what makes this place great.
Milkzhakes
RadicalAns
Posted 7:53 AM 1/10/08
@Testamonium: They're saving that for when they license "Dead to Rights"
RadicalAns
1st2nd3rd4th
Posted 7:53 AM 1/10/08
Wonder how this pun would work in the Simpsons world..
1st2nd3rd4th
homernoy
Posted 7:45 AM 1/10/08
@der13manner: Right, I found my self writing the Nvidia slogan subconsiously, virtually word for word. Then I changed it and posted a clusterfuck of a response. Heh.
homernoy
DreamDivision
Posted 7:45 AM 1/10/08
Super perfect.
DreamDivision
Xeneizes
Posted 7:44 AM 1/10/08
@Duoae: Zombie hand, I'd guess?
Xeneizes
Xeneizes
Posted 7:44 AM 1/10/08
That's great. I love it. Wish more people took box art this awesome direction.
Xeneizes
wellsie_eng
Posted 7:41 AM 1/10/08
Open Photoshop + Invert Image = Happy internet
wellsie_eng
snowbeach024
Posted 7:39 AM 1/10/08
i guess it would've been far fetched if there were 5 individuals on the cover..the left 4 of whom are the walking dead attacking the 5th non-infected person.
snowbeach024
MysteriousStranger
Posted 7:37 AM 1/10/08
@OGHowie: .... since when was boxart for a game about a zombie apocalypse supposed to be pretty?
MysteriousStranger
Eluith
Posted 7:35 AM 1/10/08
@Katoejoe: That is actually right, since your "reading" flow goes from left to right (I assume) and since the hand is still whole at the left and no thumb at the right it seems a bit more... Uhm... Harmonic... I guess! Well, as harmonic as a zombie hand with no vidjagame dreams whatsoever can be!
Eluith
MrTaco
Posted 7:35 AM 1/10/08
Finally. Havn't updated it on steam yeat though.
MrTaco
Cazx
Posted 7:34 AM 1/10/08
why does www.l4d.com still show the old one? but l4d.com shows the new one?
Cazx
Anarchist_Gamer
Posted 7:34 AM 1/10/08
So it took me a minute:
The hand's been left.
4 fingers are left.
It's a left hand.
Oh, and it's totally the hand of the dead.
Anarchist_Gamer
Duoae
Posted 7:34 AM 1/10/08
@Katoejoe:
You realise that it's the same image but mirrored right?
Duoae
General_Bison
Posted 7:34 AM 1/10/08
@homernoy: Neither, obviously.
General_Bison
der13manner
Posted 7:33 AM 1/10/08
@homernoy: Nvidia.
der13manner
General_Bison
Posted 7:33 AM 1/10/08
Hehehe, Very clever.
General_Bison
bobtheduck
Posted 7:32 AM 1/10/08
@WhaleMenace: Also known as a rimshot, though the "normal kotaku reader" will confuse that with something similarly named, so maybe it isn't the best idea to use the proper terminology.
bobtheduck
homernoy
Posted 7:30 AM 1/10/08
@homernoy: "it's the way it is the format it's meant to be"
*It's the format it's meant to be played on.
homernoy
Duoae
Posted 7:30 AM 1/10/08
Wait... so where's the 'dead' on the box?
;)
Duoae
masterbanana
Posted 7:28 AM 1/10/08
Is this an opprotunity where I can discriminate about lefties?
No?
How about Soulja Boy, then?
masterbanana
Benjammn
Posted 7:27 AM 1/10/08
@Benjammn:
That was meant for the comment above me. :/
Benjammn
Benjammn
Posted 7:26 AM 1/10/08
@Matonly1T:
As in we have finally cut off all thumbs of lefties in the world, you mean? Of course. Lefties are sinister.
Benjammn
homernoy
Posted 7:25 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger: Buy it for the PC if you have a system that can run the Source Engine, it's the way it is the format it's meant to be played on. Believe me. If you don't, I don't know what to tell ya.
homernoy
Lazlo
Posted 7:23 AM 1/10/08
Wow, this is incredible. Valve, you have outdone yourself.
Lazlo
Heart-Skull-Kid
Posted 7:23 AM 1/10/08
What Sith said, Left (Left Hand) 4 (4 fingers) Dead (Dead hand aka dead person aka zombie)
Heart-Skull-Kid
Comatose Turtle
Posted 7:22 AM 1/10/08
As a champion of punnery, this completes me.
Comatose Turtle
KillerOnTheRoad
Posted 7:22 AM 1/10/08
@uppitycracker: Oh come on, somebody, most likely EA, will end up making a PS3 version eventually.
KillerOnTheRoad
Kyattsuai
Posted 7:21 AM 1/10/08
It'd be vain of me to think that I single-handedly caused the box art to change, but I did have the first comment in the original post that pointed out the error.
Kyattsuai
Defoliantonthemoneytree
Posted 7:20 AM 1/10/08
Left
Four
Dead
Xbox
Live
Four Fingers
Left hand
4 Corners on the box
So congruent, it's aggravating.
Defoliantonthemoneytree
WhaleMenace
Posted 7:20 AM 1/10/08
@rodge020679:
Step one, read post, step two read comments, step three, ask anyway.
WhaleMenace
kaskeon
Posted 7:20 AM 1/10/08
@Señor Cagon: it's the left hand
kaskeon
WhaleMenace
Posted 7:19 AM 1/10/08
@y2julio: I believe you are referring to "ba-dumm cha!"
WhaleMenace
OrigamiNinja
Posted 7:19 AM 1/10/08
@vashthestampede: Well done, sir.
OrigamiNinja
Sith_Mafia
Posted 7:19 AM 1/10/08
pun on left in the title, pun on 4 and four fingers, pun on dead and thumb missing
Sith_Mafia
Hand_O_Death
Posted 7:19 AM 1/10/08
Bout
Damn
Time
Hand_O_Death
rodge020679
Posted 7:18 AM 1/10/08
yeah i dont get it. so what if it was a right hand?
rodge020679
homernoy
Posted 7:17 AM 1/10/08
@ZetaCrossfire: What sucks, the game or the box art?
homernoy
Gigaheart
Posted 7:17 AM 1/10/08
So WTF is the "joke" about it?
Huh?
HAH?!!
*~*
Gigaheart
y2julio
Posted 7:16 AM 1/10/08
@vashthestampede: *does drum roll thingy*
y2julio
Shykin
Posted 7:16 AM 1/10/08
I c wut you did thar...
It figures valve would do that...
Shykin
OGHowie
Posted 7:16 AM 1/10/08
Funny, but still ugly.
OGHowie
jamesb2147
Posted 7:15 AM 1/10/08
@concrete_d: i think i got it now actually. it's the left hand, 4 fingers, and the LEFT 4 FINGERS on the hand. the sad thing is i understood all this 2 months ago, i just forgot :/
jamesb2147
flyingsupernerds
Posted 7:14 AM 1/10/08
Those guys...
flyingsupernerds
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 7:14 AM 1/10/08
@jamesb2147:
It's a dead persons hand. Well Zombie technically
Left hand, 4 fingers, Dead person
LittleBigPlaneteer
jamesb2147
Posted 7:13 AM 1/10/08
@Testamonium: oh wow, just reattach the thumb and saw off the left 3. THAT's the trifecta!
jamesb2147
vashthestampede
Posted 7:13 AM 1/10/08
@PercyChuggs: A normal Kotaku reader?!
vashthestampede
CartBlanche2
Posted 7:13 AM 1/10/08
Why do people hate on zombies. Zombies are, I mean were, people too!
I think zombies have been maligned for far too long. It is high time we put our differences aside and opened up a channel for dialog. I think someone should create a game where you have to negotiate a peace deal with the brain eating zombies, instead of killing the poor things. Maybe offer them something that it just as nutritious as human brains, but that aren't. Maybe a Quorn version of human brains will do it.
CartBlanche2
ZetaCrossfire
Posted 7:13 AM 1/10/08
really? still sucks
ZetaCrossfire
concrete_d
Posted 7:12 AM 1/10/08
@jamesb2147:
Presumably the hand belongs to a dead guy.
concrete_d
lumpi
Posted 7:10 AM 1/10/08
Hehe, Valve... good people. :)
Still, I'm getting a pun-overflow from the title and box art.
lumpi
jamesb2147
Posted 7:10 AM 1/10/08
i must be missing something. i get the left thing and the 4 thing and i understand the title as a whole, but surely i must be missing one if it is "a trifecta of wordplay fully realized." thanks for any help!
jamesb2147
uppitycracker
Posted 7:09 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger:
go ahead and panic. it still wont make it release on the PS3.
uppitycracker
minywheats
Posted 7:09 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger:
I would have bet the farm that I "heard' that they being valve would not be making L4D for PS3.
minywheats
uppitycracker
Posted 7:09 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger:
uppitycracker
Señor Cagon
Posted 7:08 AM 1/10/08
Oh! I get it! With the missing thumb it has 4 fingers like the 4 in the middle of Left 4 Dead that at the same time the word "for" has been supplanted by the number 4.... Any other relations to the number like 4 player co-op?
Señor Cagon
LemmingX
Posted 7:08 AM 1/10/08
@Katoejoe:
Are you right handed?
LemmingX
LemmingX
Posted 7:08 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger:
That's because it's not coming out on PS3, at least not straight away.
LemmingX
Maxyboy13
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@Maxyboy13: Damn Ninjas
Maxyboy13
Pyro Jack
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think it used to be a right hand.
Pyro Jack
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@drunkentyger:
GABE NEWELL HUNGRY, HE WILL EAT YOUR COMMENT BEFORE OTHERS SEE IT. NOM NOM NOM
LittleBigPlaneteer
exkon
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
"Left" 4 Dead!!
Damn it now I get, I didn't realize the first version had the right hand....
exkon
Maxyboy13
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: It was a right hand with the thumb off. Now that it is a LEFT hand with FOUR fingers, the box art is playing off LEFT 4 Dead.
Maxyboy13
wintersleep
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel:
the joke is that the box art shows a left hand with four fingers.
Get it!? Left 4 Dead?! hahahahahahahahahaaha
Seriously, this is awesome.
wintersleep
Badassiousness
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel:
i believe it was a right hand...people complained because the name is LEFT 4 Dead, and not RIGHT 4 Dead, so they made it a left hand with 4 fingers...i dont care either way, i just wanna kill some damn zombies
Badassiousness
Ravel
Posted 7:07 AM 1/10/08
@houser:
I know I just realized the pun, but is it that big a deal?
Ravel
Mit
Posted 7:06 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: It was a right hand with the severed thumb. Now it's a left hand, hence, Left (hand) 4 (fingers) Dead (zombie hand).
Mit
Testamonium
Posted 7:06 AM 1/10/08
@arniejolt: Nah, they'd just have to cut off another 2 fingers from the picture and re-register the license for Right2Die
Testamonium
Katoejoe
Posted 7:06 AM 1/10/08
I can't put my finger on why exactly, but I like this box art better than the one with the right hand. Don't say it's totally different, because it isn't...there's something about it that just appeals more to my eyes
Katoejoe
Horusz
Posted 7:06 AM 1/10/08
This is great.
Horusz
houser
Posted 7:06 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel:
It was a right hand with a thumb chewed off. Now it's a left hand.
houser
drunkentyger
Posted 7:05 AM 1/10/08
i dont see one for the PS3... must not panic...
drunkentyger
arniejolt
Posted 7:05 AM 1/10/08
For a minute there if they had stuck with the original version they would have had to rename the game Right4Dead
arniejolt
PercyChuggs
Posted 7:04 AM 1/10/08
As someone who only rents from an online source, I never see the box art, so I couldn't care less about this. And yet, I posted this comment to tell people I don't care. Oh, what have I become!?
PercyChuggs
jello44
Posted 7:04 AM 1/10/08
I lol'd. Good show.
jello44
Matonly1T
Posted 7:04 AM 1/10/08
haha excellent! a triumph for lefties everywhere?
Matonly1T
Ravel
Posted 7:03 AM 1/10/08
I don't understand.
So they changed the box art?
what was it before?
Ravel
WEGGLES90
Posted 8:15 AM 1/10/08
Finally. I can have closure.
WEGGLES90
Perfec7
Posted 8:13 AM 1/10/08
Good thing they changed it. This would've been a major problem for a lot of people.
Perfec7
Zatoichi666
Posted 8:10 AM 1/10/08
I've read all the posts,
umm I still don't get it..............
I'm kidding.................next
Zatoichi666
Quilt
Posted 8:09 AM 1/10/08
I'm impressed. Not in a million years would I expect them to make even better box art, but they did it.
Quilt
Raynre
Posted 8:08 AM 1/10/08
@Eluith: Of course, this means that everyone that lives in a right-to-left reading culture is now totally hating the box art. =P
Raynre
NoBullet
Posted 7:59 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: Kotaku gave you a link to see what theyre talking about. Asking wasnt necessary.
NoBullet
gaijira
Posted 8:39 AM 1/10/08
See it would've been so much more epic if Valve got the new box art back and it was now the left hand, but now with only 3 fingers. "Nooooo!" :D
gaijira
Lombax
Posted 8:32 AM 1/10/08
heh...
Lombax
rayne117
Posted 8:32 AM 1/10/08
@Matonly1T: YAY LEFTIES
rayne117
Matonly1T
Posted 8:32 AM 1/10/08
@Kayin:
Touche
Matonly1T
HELLSRIDER
Posted 8:31 AM 1/10/08
@Mit: I noticed the change to a left hand but I didnt got all that of left, the fingers and the zombie, thanks!
HELLSRIDER
Kayin
Posted 8:29 AM 1/10/08
@Matonly1T: Left. Right. It's all the same when you have no thumb.
Kayin
acez2087
Posted 8:27 AM 1/10/08
I'd really like to see what Valve has up their sleeve artistically speaking other than a darkened green background with a zombified hand reaching for the outer heavens.
acez2087
DigiMish
Posted 8:27 AM 1/10/08
They forgot to include the PS3 box in that image.
Oh waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait...
DigiMish
DarthMetalHope
Posted 8:20 AM 1/10/08
for people who DONT understand still....they changed it from the Right hand to the Left Hand (like above box art) cause it makes the wordplay 100%. 4 fingers on a "dead" persons left hand....Left 4 Dead..ehhhh get itttt?? EHHHH?
Oh how i love puns :D
DarthMetalHope
y2julio
Posted 8:58 AM 1/10/08
@WhaleMenace: Yes lol
y2julio
Barbara
Posted 8:56 AM 1/10/08
I just canceled my PS3 pre-order because of this.
Barbara
ArtemusWolfwood
Posted 8:56 AM 1/10/08
Nothing short of brilliant.
ArtemusWolfwood
SudiptiEquestridomus
Posted 8:51 AM 1/10/08
ohh i get it, LEFT hand 4 fingers of un-DEAD
SudiptiEquestridomus
Katoejoe
Posted 9:25 AM 1/10/08
@Eluith: I think you hit the nail on the head there! Thanks :D
Katoejoe
TF2Soldier914
Posted 9:18 AM 1/10/08
@rodge020679:
LEFT for dead. Not RIGHT for dead. It took me a while to get it too.
TF2Soldier914
Paladin58
Posted 9:16 AM 1/10/08
@bobtheduck: Or, you can do it in sound effect form, like so. *ba-dum-psh!*
Paladin58
3elevenX
Posted 9:13 AM 1/10/08
Ok so for people who this is flying over their heads.
Original box art had a right hand with four fingers.
New box art has a LEFT hand with four fingers.
Get it? insert lawlz here ---> [ ]
:)
3elevenX
SoldierX25
Posted 9:55 AM 1/10/08
left hand, 4 fingers, dead zombie = left 4 dead it's just a word picture
before they had the right hand up showing 4 fingers now it's the left..
Hmm maybe Valva is trying to show support for Obama? ;)
SoldierX25
animat0
Posted 9:54 AM 1/10/08
@3elevenX:
[ lawlz ]
animat0
Saigin
Posted 9:42 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: The biggest deal ever. For silly box art puns at least.
Saigin
Vault
Posted 10:18 AM 1/10/08
@Matonly1T: for dead lefties maybe
Vault
NeVeRMoRe666
Posted 10:16 AM 1/10/08
I'm glad Valve listens to the people!
NeVeRMoRe666
Skuld
Posted 10:10 AM 1/10/08
@y2julio: [instantrimshot.com]
Skuld
Ruisu
Posted 10:57 AM 1/10/08
@Ravel: The biggest Change is. ITS Official now :P
Ruisu
TJL7170
Posted 11:28 AM 1/10/08
This just in: Right 4 Dead officially cancelled.
TJL7170
lostinseganet
Posted 11:27 AM 1/10/08
@Mit: Thanks the only thing I noticed was the 4 )_)
lostinseganet
TJL7170
Posted 11:25 AM 1/10/08
@Skuld: Win.
TJL7170
ALT
Posted 11:51 AM 1/10/08
@NoBullet: So good of you to respond to something so unnecessary then.
ALT
AssassinXaero
Posted 11:47 AM 1/10/08
I get the pun now, but I still think it is some pretty crappy looking cover...
AssassinXaero
NeVeRMoRe666
Posted 12:23 PM 1/10/08
Great....now it looks all weird to me after staring at the box art for the last couple of months. Its disjointing...CHANGE IT BACK!!
*Gobble Gobble Gobble*
NeVeRMoRe666
Nekusagi
Posted 12:14 PM 1/10/08
@1st2nd3rd4th: just a zombie hand. Probably
Nekusagi
Terance! - In Before What My Message Says
Posted 12:49 PM 1/10/08
What country are all you people from who don't get the pun?
Is English not your first language?
Terance! - In Before What My Message Says
belo
Posted 12:40 PM 1/10/08
So they went into photoshop and flipped it? M'kay.
belo
Riuk27
Posted 1:52 PM 1/10/08
So much win.
Riuk27
Liraco
Posted 2:29 PM 1/10/08
Quite funny and I agree that this it way better than that horrible orange box.
However... did you guys miss all that attention from conferences where this image has been shown before? Or is the novelty of it the fact that the image was taken for the cover? Anyway, can't wait to play it!
Liraco
Cloud92
Posted 2:21 PM 1/10/08
@Gigaheart: Its an inside joke, don't bother...
alright I'll tell you anyway...
Well the first box art showed a right hand with 4 fingers on it because... well... you know left "4" dead but then they realized it was stupid to use a right hand. So the joke is that now instead of a right hand, they switched it to the left hand now completing the pun "Left(Hand) 4(fingers) Dead (zombie hand).
Cloud92
Cloud92
Posted 2:17 PM 1/10/08
@Señor Cagon: Yeah... What Cagon said
Cloud92
Cornerb0y
Posted 2:40 PM 1/10/08
I HATE this artwork. I don't know why...
Cornerb0y
y2julio
Posted 3:14 PM 1/10/08
@Skuld: Bookmarked!
y2julio
bighit006
Posted 3:01 PM 1/10/08
NOW you may have my money valve.
bighit006
everybest
Posted 4:00 PM 1/10/08
As we read this, the Left 4 Dead banner on the left side of Kotaku shows a right hand.
everybest
Mooglepinoy22
Posted 4:31 PM 1/10/08
@Matonly1T: Hoorah for the southpaw!
Mooglepinoy22
mcderek3000
Posted 5:33 PM 1/10/08
Also, LEFT and DEAD are 4-letter words.
Captain Obvious away!
mcderek3000
el_rezzo
Posted 7:58 PM 1/10/08
Valve are always about the little things, makes them such a good company. Should be an enjoyable romp.
el_rezzo
--Core--
Posted 7:43 PM 1/10/08
So, did he leave 4 dead before he got his thumb chomped off?
Or did he leave 4 friends to die, and got his thumb chomped off?
--Core--
GFX-187
Posted 8:35 PM 1/10/08
Open in Paint > Ctrl+R > Flip horizontal = New cover art.
How they didnt spot the joke before HAND i dont know. :)
GFX-187
Wizzard
Posted 9:41 PM 1/10/08
This is awesome. This is SO AWESOME.
Wizzard
Ursus-Veritas
Posted 12:03 AM 2/10/08
Oh.
I see what you did there, zombie hand. Clever.
Box art is nice, and I can't wait to get it!
Ursus-Veritas
infestedDemon
Posted 12:48 AM 2/10/08
LMAO =D
infestedDemon
calderon0311
Posted 4:33 AM 2/10/08
@KillerOnTheRoad:
(EA will port it with the original Right Hand Missing Thumb Boxart as well)
calderon0311
thomasonfa
Posted 5:57 AM 2/10/08
The only problem is they did not fix it in the web banners. :-p
thomasonfa
Etheo
Posted 9:27 AM 2/10/08
@Ravel: Personally, it was the headline of this article that made me realize the change, hence the chuckle. "Completes the joke" is about goddamn right. I guess that's why I'm not in journalism XD
Etheo
kokiri-kid
Posted 12:45 PM 2/10/08
so wait, why did they make it a left hand, wasn't it a right hand?
kokiri-kid