Raising The Bar: Arena — Multiplayer Mod for Half-Life 2 Beta
The Raising The Bar: Redux development team has introduced Raising The Bar: Arena — a multiplayer mod that fully immerses you in the setting and atmosphere of Half-Life 2 Beta. Support for P2P connections and custom servers in the style of Counter-Strike provides hosting flexibility. AI development for bots will expand solo play options.
Previous team releases include Division 3 from the main project in early 2026 and the spin-off Raising The Bar: Salvation about Father Grigori in 2024. The first Arena release will feature seven maps with different scenarios.
Maps in the First Release
Stormdrain
First map, inspired by the canals and objects from Division 2. Compact design for 6–8 players creates conditions for intense close-quarters combat with chaotic gameplay.
Wastebowl
Adaptation of an arena map from Half-Life 2: Survivor. The wasteland setting suits 8–12 players, emphasizing tactical movement in open spaces.
Mall
Developed by mapmaker RzDat in the City 17 environment. Balanced for 8–12 players, combining cover and open areas.
Construction
Overhauled Construction02 from Raising The Bar: Redux. For 10–16 players: a mix of enclosed spaces and open areas with weapon variety for different playstyles.
Expanded Scenarios
Depot
Largest map based on the Division 3 depot. Supports up to 20–32 players. Twisting corridors, alternative routes, and wide lines of sight for positional battles.
Ravenholm
Setting of the iconic town with narrow streets, multi-level interiors, and a central square. Focus on combat physics. Map in development.
Wave Survival
Survival mode for 4–8 players against waves of Combine. Limited resources, escalating difficulty with new threats emerging from the depot. In progress.
Full readiness of maps and gameplay expected in 2026.
Other Team Projects
- Division 4–7 for Raising The Bar: Redux.
- Raising The Bar: Triumph — a reimagining of Portal from 2005.
- Half-Life 2: RTX remaster in collaboration with Orbifold Studios.
| Map | Players | Setting | Features |
|------|---------|---------|-------------|
| Stormdrain | 6–8 | Division 2 Canals | Chaotic close-quarters combat |
| Wastebowl | 8–12 | Wasteland | Tactical movement |
| Mall | 8–12 | City 17 | Balanced cover |
| Construction | 10–16 | Construction Zone | Style variety |
| Depot | 20–32 | Depot | Positional combat |
| Ravenholm | TBA | Ravenholm | Combat physics |
| Wave Survival | 4–8 | Depot | Enemy waves |
Key Points
- Multiplayer on P2P and CS-style servers with AI bots.
- Seven unique maps in the HL2 Beta setting.
- Release in 2026 after Division 3 and Salvation.
- Parallel work on Division 4–7, Triumph, and RTX remaster.
- Focus on gameplay variety: from chaos to survival.
— Editorial Team
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