Electronic Arts and Valve Software have announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement which will see EA distribute Half-Life 2: Game of the Year edition and Counter-Strike: Source , as well as Half-Life 2 for the Xbox. Back in April Valve severed ties with Vivendi Universal Games following a legal settlement between the two companies. At the time Valve said they would look for a new retail partner.

"EA is the worldwide leader in bringing best of breed games, for all platforms, to market," said Gabe Newell, Valve's founder and president. "Valve games have sold over 18 million units at retail since Half-Life shipped in November 1998. By combining EA's unparalleled operation structure and distribution channel with Valve's award-winning development teams and games community, we've established an awesome combination for delivering great products to console and PC gamers around the world."

Half-Life 2 GOTY edition will include the original game, Half-Life: Source, Half-Life 2 Deathmatch and Counter-Strike: Source (no Aftermath expansion?). The retail edition of Counter-Strike: Source will include that game as well as Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Day of Defeat: Source. Both products, as well as Half-Life 2 Xbox, will be in stores this fall.

Note: Guys this doesn't mean EA now owns the Half-Life franchise or anything. EA is just distributing the games to stores.