This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.
This page details one or more prototype versions of Left 4 Dead 2.
A retail pre-order disk version known as 1.0.1.0 was released on October 21, 2009, 3 weeks before it was updated to 2.0.0.0 on official release date. Interestingly, the only difference was the menu UI which did not get updated and resembles the E3 2009 menu... and a lot of bugs.
UI Comparisons
Main Menu
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Options Submenus
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Extras Submenus
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Video Settings
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Audio Settings
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
KB&M Settings
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Multiplayer Settings
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Addons
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Campaign Menu
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Campaign List
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Character Select
1.0.1.0 Retail
2.0.0.0 Steam
Early Menu Theme
gamestartup1.mp3
l4d2_c1_pc.mp3
The music for Dead Center main menu was different on retail version. It plays on all chapter menus than separate main menu themes in final game (the files for these were found in retail game files as unused) but not in loop. The early version of the music was also present on console versions.