Alyx and Dog standing side by side in Half-Life 2
The Orange Box remains a legendary video game compilation. Bundling Half-Life 2, its two episodes, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, it became a mainstay in gaming, largely due to its incredible content and instantly recognizable orange packaging. However, this iconic color was almost something else entirely: white.
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek, in a TikTok video highlighted by PC Gamer, revealed that The Orange Box was nearly shipped in a plain white box. While orange seems fitting, given its prominence in the Half-Life series, the consideration of white packaging remains a curious anecdote.
Faliszek recounted a meeting where executives proposed a “stately” white box design for the initial release of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (before the inclusion of Portal and Team Fortress 2). The proposed design was minimalist, potentially featuring only the game’s title.
In 2007, physical game boxes held immense importance for marketing. Faliszek emphasized the significance of conveying value through box art, especially with Steam still in its early stages. The executives presenting the white box seemingly prioritized aesthetics over impactful marketing.
@chetfaliszekReplying to @oliverwilliamwalker
The development team, however, strongly disagreed with this approach. Faliszek described the collective disbelief and ridicule directed towards the proposed design. The developers viewed the meeting as an opportunity to voice their frustration after periods of intense work (“crunching”), using the white box discussion as a “relief valve.”
Fortunately, the developers’ feedback ultimately led to the now-iconic orange box. Interestingly, the executives involved later contributed to the striking box art for Left 4 Dead, demonstrating Valve’s collaborative environment.
This story exemplifies Valve’s encouragement of cross-team collaboration, a key factor in the creation of some of the most celebrated first-person shooters ever made. Further insights into this collaborative spirit and other historical anecdotes are available in the recent Half-Life 2 documentary, commemorating the game’s 20th anniversary.
