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New Horizons

Custom campaigns like Urban Flight, War-Torn, or I am Legend are the primary way to keep a Left 4 Dead 2 server fresh. These packages are distributed as .vpk files, which contain the maps, models, and custom textures unique to that environment.
Reading TimeDifficultyLast Updated
5 minutesBeginnerJanuary 2026

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1. Manual VPK Installation

  1. Upload the chosen CampaignName.vpk to the following directory on your server:
    • /left4dead2/addons/
  2. Restart the server.
  3. Verification: In the console, type sm_maps (if SourceMod is installed) to see if the new map names appear in the list.

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2. Launching the Campaign

Every custom campaign has a unique “Starter Map” name (e.g., uf1_boulevard). To manually change the server to this map:
  1. Open your console.
  2. Type: changelevel map_name_here

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3. The Content Sync Problem

If you simply upload the VPK to the server, players will be disconnected with a “Map Missing” error because they don’t have the file.
  • The Modern Solution: Add the map to your Steam Workshop Collection and link it in your Startup Settings. This forces the client to download the VPK directly from Steam, bypassing the need for a complex FastDL setup.

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Last Updated: January 2026 | L4D2: World expanded.