Half-Life was released on November 19, 1998, and supports multiplayer matches with up to 32 players online, depending on server settings. It is a story-driven first-person shooter that follows theoretical physicist Gordon Freeman during a catastrophic experiment at the Black Mesa Research Facility, combining scripted narrative sequences with fast, tactical gunplay. The multiplayer component centers primarily on Deathmatch (free-for-all combat), with team-based variants available through updates and community servers, emphasizing movement skill, map control, and efficient weapon use across tightly designed arenas.