Development of the next Half-Life game

Despite general satisfaction with the games Valve has made since Episode Two, the Half-Life 3 continues to be their most anticipated title, and since the long- ... 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Register SignIn Advertisement in: Goodarticles,Protectedpages,Articlescontainingspoilers, and 4more Games Half-Life2 Half-Life2:EpisodeThree Half-Life2Episodes English Deutsch Español DevelopmentofthenextHalf-Lifegame Viewsource History Talk(3) Thisarticlecontainsspoilers.Readatyourownrisk! Fan-madeHalf-Life3logo,basedontheofficialshirtasseenbelow. ForoveradecadeafterthereleaseHalf-Life2:EpisodeTwoinOctober2007,therewasverylittlenewsfromValveonthenextHalf-Lifegame. Half-Life2:EpisodeThree,thethirdandfinalinstallmentoftheHalf-Life2episodes,wasexpectedtofollowsoonafterEpisodeTwo,asValvehadstatedthattheyaimedtoreleaseanewepisodeeverysixtoeightmonths.[1]However,asofOctober2022,threepiecesofconceptartareallValvehaveshownofthesequel.Sincethen,Valvehasreleasedtenothergames. OnNovember18,2019,12yearsafterthereleaseofHalf-Life2:EpisodeTwoandthedaybeforethe21stanniversaryofthereleaseoftheoriginalHalf-Life,ValveannouncedHalf-Life:Alyx,avirtualrealityvideogamesetintheHalf-Lifeuniverse,whereyouplayasAlyxVanceintheaftermathoftheCombineinvasiononearth,beforetheeventsofHalf-Life2.[2][3]OnNovember21thefirsttrailerforthegamewasreleasedandthegamebecameavailableforpre-purchase.AccordingtoleadprogrammerDavidSpeyrer,inaninterviewwiththevideogamemagazineTheVergereleasedthesameday,Half-Life:Alyxis"thenextpartoftheHalf-Lifestory,"andsaysthattheyrecommendplayingthroughHalf-Life2:EpisodeTwobeforehand.[3] PriortoAlyx'sannouncement,leakssuggestthatValveabandonedtheepisodicmodel[4]andwasworkingonafullsequelentitledHalf-Life3,[5]butValveemployeesconsistentlyrefusedtocommentonthestatusornatureofthenextHalf-Lifegame,muchtothedispleasureoftheirfanbase.[6][7]DespitegeneralsatisfactionwiththegamesValvehasmadesinceEpisodeTwo,theHalf-Life3continuestobetheirmostanticipatedtitle,andsincethelong-awaitedreleaseofDukeNukemForeverin2011,ithasbecomegaming'smostinfamouscaseofcontinuingvaporware. InaninterviewwithGeoffKeighley(authorofTheFinalHoursofPortal2andTheFinalHoursofHalf-Life2),Half-Life:Alyx'sdevelopersremainedcoyonthesubjectofwhetherHalf-Life:Alyxcouldbridgethegaptowardsavirtualreality-basedHalf-Life3,notingtheywouldhavetoseehowHalf-Life:Alyxwasreceived.[8] Contents 1Timelineofreleasedinformation 1.1Before2006 1.22006 1.32007 1.42008 1.52009 1.62010 1.72011 1.82012 1.92013 1.102014 1.112015 1.122016 1.132017 1.142018 1.152019 1.162020 1.172022 2References Timelineofreleasedinformation CombineAdvisorsaroundtheBorealisinthefirstEpisodeThreeconceptartimage,releasedin2007. GordonFreemanfacetofacewithanAdvisorinthesecondEpisodeThreeconceptartimage,createdandreleasedin2008. CombineAdvisorsaroundtheBorealisinthethirdandlastEpisodeThreeconceptartimage,releasedin2008. WhatfollowsarethefactsthathavebeenrevealedbyValveorfoundbygamersovertheyearsaboutanythingrelatingtothefutureoftheHalf-Lifefranchise. Before2006 In1999,thedomainhalf-life3.comisregisteredunderthesamedetailsashalf-life2.com,withValvecitedasthecontact.[9]TheURLusedtoredirecttoTheOrangeBoxwebsitebutnowreturnsan"UnderConstruction"page. 2006 InMay,EpisodeThreeisannouncedforaChristmas2007release.[10] Thesamemonth,itisrevealedthatanewEpisodewillbereleasedeverysixtoeightmonths,andwilltakefourtosixhourstocomplete.AnEpisodeFour,developedoutsideofValveandwithastand-aloneplot,isalsomentioned.[1][11] 2007 InJune,GordonFreemanisconfirmedasthemainprotagonistofEpisodeThree.[12] InaMayinterviewgivenbyDavidSpeyrerandDougLombardiaboutthedevelopmentofEpisodeThree,itisstatedthatalotofworkhasgoneintocreatingnaturalprogressoftopographyandclimatebetweenTwoandThree,andthattheplayerwillnotheadbacktoCity17,atleastnotinthisgame.Furthermore,SpeyrerdoesnotwanttocommentonspeculationstartedbyPCGamerUKonthegame'sclimaxbeingabattlesetatanArcticresearchstation.[13] InOctober,EpisodeTwoisreleased.Attheendofthegame,GordonFreemanandAlyxVanceareabouttoleavetoArcticlocations,insearchofJudithMossmanandthenewlyrecoveredBorealis,theApertureScienceicebreaker,suggestingthisiswhatthesequeltoEpisodeTwowillbeabout. InaNovemberinterview,DavidSpeyrerexplainsthatanEpisodeThreeteaserattheendofEpisodeTwowasdeliberatelyomittedtoavoidruiningthemoodtheplayerwouldhavebeeninafterthefinalscenebyhavingitfollowedbyahighactiontrailer.Anotherreasonwastogivethemmorecreativefreedom,andavoidbeingcommittedtoanythingseeninthepotentialtrailer,statingtheyaretryingtodo"somethingprettyambitious".HealsostatestheydidnotwanttomakethesamemistakeaswiththeEpisodeTwotrailerfeaturedattheendofEpisodeOne,asitisradicallydifferentfromthefinishedgame.[14] InNovemberaswell,thefirstconceptartforEpisodeThreeisreleasedbyGamesRadar.[15] InDecember,EpisodeThreeissaidtobeonlytheendofthecurrentHalf-Life2storyarc,nottheendoftheoverallHalf-Lifefranchise,northeepisodicreleases,withevenmoreepisodicgamesunconnectedtothecurrentstoryarctobemade.[16]ThishintsattheEpisodeFourmentionedin2006. 2008 InMarch,conceptimagesareuploadedtoAndreaWicklund'sPicasaportfolio.Theimagesarelaterleaked,andtheoriginalimagesaretakendown.[17][18]Theyarepresentedbelow. InApril,sourcecodeforthreeentitiesisreleasedintheSourceSDKinafoldernamed"Episode3",beforebeingremovedshortlyafter.Theyinclude"npc_combine_armored"(aheavilyarmoredCombinesoldierwithseparateshieldsforeachpartofitsbody),"npc_wpnscanner"(ascannershootingbolts),and"weapon_proto1"(appearingintheSourceParticleBenchmarkandEpisodeTwoasatestweapon).However,itislaterstatedbyValve'sTonySergithatthecodeisaleftoverofoldmaterial.[19] InJuly,thesecondEpisodeThreeconceptartisreleasedthroughthewinnerlistoftheIntothePixelcontestofthatyear,involvingGordonFreemanandhiscrowbarfacetofacewithaCombineAdvisor,andmadebyValveartistsTedBackman,JeremyBennett,andTristanReidford.[15][20]Thesamemonth,thethirdandlastconceptartsofarisrevealedagainbyGamesRadar.[15] InanOctoberinterview,ValvemarketingdirectorDougLombardistatesthatnewsoranannouncementofEpisodeThreemightberevealedneartheendoftheyear.[21]Inthatinterview,LombardialsostatesthatthedistancebetweenEpisodeTwoanditssequelwillbelongerthanthedistancebetweenthethreecurrentHalf-Life2games.[21] InDecember,videofootageofwhatispresentedasanAlphaversionofEpisodeThreeisreleased.Itislaterrevealedtobeafan-madesetofmaps.[22][23] 2009 WhilethecommunityisexpectinganannouncementonthefutureoftheHalf-LifefranchiseonJune1,Left4Dead2isannouncedinstead,[24]instantlyleadingtothecreationoftheLeft4Dead2boycottSteamgroup.Followingthatpattern,onJune4,apetitionnamedMessagetoValveiscreatedontheSteamforumsbyuserSurfrock22,requestingmorecommunicationbetweenValveandtheHalf-Lifefanbase(referredtointhethreadasValve's"oldestandlongest-runningfanbase"),thuspubliclyreleasesomeinformationaboutthefutureoftheHalf-Lifefranchise.[25][26] InanAugustvideoinvolvingGabeNewellandtwointerpretersdiscussingdeafnessandvideogameswithasmallaudienceofhearing-impairedpeople,theinclusionofanunidentifieddeafcharacterinafuturegamesetintheHalf-LifeandPortaluniverseissaidtobetestedbyValve,asanewgameplayandSourceenginefeatureaimedatprovidingbettersupportforhearing-impairedplayers.NewellsuggeststhatbeforeAlyxmetGordon,shehadacrushonahearing-impairedResistancemember,sosheprogrammedDogwithknowledgeofsignlanguagesoshecouldpracticeandeasilycommunicatewithhim.ThenthispersonwentawayfromAlyxtofighttheCombinesomeplaceelse,andAlyxandDogstartedsigningwitheachotherwhentheywantedtocommunicatewithoutmakingnoiseorwithoutotherpeopleknowing.[27] Thesamemonth,NewellexplainsinaninterviewthatValveisexperimentingwithmanytechniquesontheirgames,includingEpisodeThree.Headdshehascurrentlynothingtosayaboutthegame,andthatthecommunitywillbenotifiedassoonastheyhavethematerialtheyarereadytoshare.[28] 2010 ListofthehintnodesfoundintheAlienSwarmSDK. InaMarchinterview,NewellhintsthatValveintendstoreturntheHalf-Lifefranchisetoitspsychologicalhorrorrootsbyexploitingthefans'deepestfears,whichhesumsupas"thedeathoftheirchildren"and"thefadingoftheirownabilities".[29] Thesamemonth,thePortalARGislaunched.Inthebeginning,thecommunitystartstospeculateitisrelatedtoEpisodeThree,[30]untilitisrevealedtheARGispromotingtheupcomingPortal2. InanAprilinterview,GabeNewellstatesthatGordonFreemanwillgounchangedinthenextHalf-Lifegame-hewantshimto"largelyremainanarmandacrowbar."Therealsoarenoplanstomakehimatalkingcharacter,asNewellconsidersmakingtheplayer'scompanionsmoreinterestingandcompellingseemsamorefruitfulavenuetoexplore.[31] ShortlyafterAlienSwarmisreleasedinJuly,unusedhintnodesarefoundinitsSDK,underthenames"Ep3BlobShakePosition","Ep3FireCoverPosition","Ep3BrainCoverPosition","Ep3BrainRegeneratePosition","Ep3SpitPosition","Ep3SpawnGeneratorPosition",and"Aperture:Nest".Giventheprefix"Ep3"andtheuseofthename"Aperture",thesemaybeleftoversofthesequeltoEpisodeTwo.[32] InanAugustinterview,DougLombardistatestheyhatetomakethecommunitywaitbutthattheyhavenoannouncementsregardingGordonFreemanorhisongoingadventuresatthistime.[33] 2011 ThetwoHalf-LifefanspicketingoutsideofValvemetbyGabeNewellinAugust2011. TheHalf-Life3T-shirtwasphotographedbyChandanaEkanayakeonDecember1,2011. InFebruary,ChetFaliszekstatesthatValveis"notpreparedtotalkabout[EpisodeThree]atthemoment".[34] WhenaskedaboutthefutureoftheHalf-LifeseriesinaMarchinterview,DougLombardistatesthattheyarenotdonewithGordonFreeman'sadventures,andadvisesthecommunityto"hanginthere"withthem,withoutfurtherdetail.[35] OnApril19,Portal2isreleased.Thesameday,TheFinalHoursofPortal2isreleased.Init,authorGeoffKeighleystatesthatPortal2isprobablyValve'slastgamewithanisolatedsingle-playerexperience.Thisismisunderstoodbymanymembersofthecommunityasthesimpleendofsingle-playergamesmadebyValve,whichisnegatedbyGabeNewellinaMayinterview,inwhichhestatesthatValveisnotdonewithsingle-playergamesbutratherdonewithsingle-playergamesasweknowthemtodayandthattheywilltransforminto"single-playerplus"games,thussingle-playergameswithsocialcomponentsaddedtothem.Hereckonsthatentertainmentisinherentlyincreasedinvaluebyhavingitbesocial,lettingpeopleplaywiththeirfriends,andrecognizingthattheyareconnectedwithotherpeople,andthattheyhavetoworkonaddingthistotheirsingle-playergames.[36] InanotherMayinterview,NewellstatesthatValveisdonewiththeepisodicmodelasweknowit,nowratherupdatingthesamegameasmuchastheywantthroughSteam,whichwasintroducedwithTeamFortress2.[4]ThissuggeststhatthenextHalf-Lifegamewillnotbeintheveinofitstwopredecessors,leadingthecommunitytospeculatethatValvehasmovedtoalargerproject. Thesamemonth,thePortal2SDKisreleased.Inthefiles,codeforanNPCnamed"CombineAdvisor-Roaming"isfoundbyusers,andisshortlyremovedinasubsequentupdate.[37] InMayagain,several.vcdchoreographyfileslabeled"magnuss"arefoundinPortal2'sVPKcache.Theyarenamed"magnuss_get_going.vcd","magnuss_idle.vcd","magnuss_nopoint.vcd","magnuss_shakehead.vcd",and"magnuss_wave.vcd",andappeartobeforthemodel"magnusson.mdl",ArneMagnusson'smodel.Theydon'texistintheEpisodeTwofiles,whereMagnusson'sanimationsareprefixed"mag",suggestingtheymaybeeitherolddiscardedanimations,oranimationssettoappearinthenextHalf-Lifegame.[38][39] InJune,attheGamesforChangefestivalinNewYork,GabeNewelldeliversakeynotefocusinglargelyontheeducationalbenefitsofgames.WhenNewellaskstheaudienceforanyquestions,someoneaskswhenEpisodeThreeisgoingtobereleased.Newell'sanswers"Ifyouknowenoughtoaskthequestion,youknowenoughwhattheansweris."[40] OnAugust11and12,threefanspicketoutsideoftheValveheadquartersinBellevue,Washington,requestinginformationaboutEpisodeThree/Half-Life3.GabeNewellinpersoncomesouttospeakwiththem,theygoforlunchtogether,andarealsogivenatouroftheofficesbyErikJohnson,aswellaspizza,playtestingofDota2,andsomegoodies.However,uponbeingaskedwhenanewHalf-Lifewascomingout,Newellmerelyanswered:"Ican'ttellyou.".Thefirstdaycountstwofansonly,andtheyarejoinedwithathirdoneonthesecondday.Thetextsontheirsignsinclude"CANADA4THERELEASEOFHALFLIFE3","HALFLIFE3...ISITLEFT4DEAD?","HOWDIDJUDITHGETTOTHEARCTICSOQUICKLY?(restunseen)""ICOULDN'TTHINKOFANEWSIGN...BUTYOUKNOWWHATWEWANT(HL3)",amongothers.AsaMicrosoftbuildingislocatednearby,presumablyaValveemployeegavethepicketersfourhumoroussmallsignstoshow,suchasoneaskingMicrosofttobringbacktheformerMSOfficemascot"Clippy".Theprotestersclaimthattheirpicketingisnotmeanttobeaseriousprotestbutratherajoke;theyjusthadfreetimeontheirhandsandfeltlike"chillin',maxin'relaxin'allcool"outsideofValve.Followingthe"protest",KotakualsoaskedNewellifhehadanythingtosayaboutanewgame,towhichhesimplyreplied:"Igotnothingforyou.".[41][42][43][44][45] AroundSeptember19th,aVietnamesebetatesterleaksDota2’sentiregameclient,aswellasallofitsfiles,totheInternet.Amongthevariousfilescanbefoundcodereferringtoafoldernamed"ep3",pointingatwhatappearstobeweapons:"weapon_icegun","weaponizer_concrete","weaponizer_liquid","weaponizer_metal",and"weapon_flamethrower".[46]However,aroundSeptember23ChetFaliszekstatesthatthecodedoesn'tmeananythingandshouldn'tbetakenasfact.[47] December2011seesseveralrumorsaboutaHalf-LifeARG,andthatGabeNewellhasgiventhego-aheadtothoseintheknowtodropHalf-Lifehints.FansseewhatmaybebehintsinWheatley's"CharacteroftheYear"awardacceptancevideofortheSpikeTV2011VideoGameAwards,severalfakeofficiale-mailsareshared,crypticinformationisrevealedthroughanunofficialTwitteraccountforDougRattmann,andanunofficialwebsite,Black-Aperture.com,revealsothercrypticmessages.AllisdebunkedbyValvethroughGabeNewell,MarcLaidlawandChetFaliszek.[48][49][50][51] OnDecember1,ChandanaEkanayake,partofSeattle-basedgamedeveloperUberEntertainment,seeswhathebelievestobeaValveemployeewearingwhatappearstobeaHalf-Life3T-shirtatalocaldeveloperevent,andaskshispermissiontotakeaphotooftheT-shirtasheisahugefanoftheseries.UponbeingaskedifheknowsanythingaboutHalf-Life3,heappearstoknownothing.[52][53]OnDecember1,afannamedAlexeiasksseries'writerMarcLaidlawaboutthevalidityoftheT-shirt;heconfirmsitsexistencebuthasnothingelsetoelaborateon.[54] OnDecember9,ananonymousUS-basedvoiceactorrevealsthatValvehasrecordedlinesfor"Half-Life:Episode3"(sic).ThisleadstorumorsthatthenextHalf-Lifegamewillbeunveiledatthe2011SpikeVideoGameAwardsonDecember10.[55]However,thisdoesn'toccur. DuringtheSteamHolidaySale,ValvedropsseveralHalf-Lifereferencesintheirsaleartwork.InthecomicRandolphtheRed-NosedTurretreleasedDecember22,3socksarehungonthemantelpiece,forGordon,AlyxandDog.AboveisthelandscapeseenbyChellwhenshereachestheoutsideattheendofPortal2,with3cloudsinthesky.Furthermore,intheimageplacedattheendoftheslideshowofday5oftheHolidaySale(December23)showingtheSteammascotsridingwithSantaClausinhissleigh,[56]oneofthemascotsisholdingagoldenLambdanecklacewith3specksoflightonit,amongotherthings.ThisfurtherfedrumorsandspeculationamongthefanbaseaboutimminentnewsaboutanewHalf-Lifegame.[57] OnDecember23,voiceactorJohnPatrickLowriedebunksonhispersonalblogthewordsoftheanonymousvoiceactorfromDecember9bystatinginthecommentsonapostabouthiswifeEllenMcLainbeingnominatedforaVGAawardthathehasn'theardanythingyetaboutanewHalf-Lifegame,andthushasnotrecordedanythingyet.Hestates,amongotherthings:"NoHalf-Life3stuffyet.Haven’theardanything."and"EllenandIhaven’theardanythingaboutanewHalf-Lifeepisode.[58]HelaterrepeatsthislackofknowledgeonMarch23rd,2012. OnDecember26,thepetitionlaunchedin2009ontheSteamUsers'Forums(morethan1,600signaturesasofFebruary2012)[25][26]evolvestoaSteamgroupnamed"ACallforCommunication(Half-Life)"(morethan50,000membersasofFebruary2012).[6] 2012 OnJanuary9,severalreferencestotheHalf-LifeseriesarefoundintheCounter-Strike:GlobalOffensivebetafiles,namelybeingseveralwhiteboardtexturefilesforthemap"Office",containingthenamesofseveralHalf-Life2maincharacters,amongotherthings.[59] OnJanuary5,"OperationCrowbar"islaunchedontheSteamUsers'Forums,asanotherformofprotestagainstValve'ssilenceonthefutureoftheHalf-Lifefranchise(theoperationalsohasitsdedicatedSteamgroup).ItinvolvesbuyingcrowbarsandmailingthemtoValve,or,asacheaperalternative,spamValve'se-mailaccountsandFacebookpagewithpicturesofcrowbarsorcrowbar-relatedpuns.[7] OnJanuary10,IGN'seditorCharlesOnyettspeculatesthat,basedonindustrytrends,2012willbetheyearValvefinallystartstalkingaboutHalf-Life3,andbelievesValvemightbewaitingfordetailsfromSonyandMicrosoftontheirnext-generationconsolesbeforeannouncinganything.[60] OnJanuary13,MarcLaidlawconfirmstherumorthatafourthandcanceledHalf-Life2Episode,ReturntoRavenholm,wasdevelopedbyArkaneStudiosfrom2006to2009.[61] FollowingEkanayake'sinformationabouttheHalf-Life3T-shirt,GarryNewman,creatorofGarry'sMod,trollsthecommunityonJanuary12byshowingafakeHalf-Life3T-shirtonhisTwitter,claimingitwassentbyValve.[62] AsofJanuary19,theSteamgroup"ACallforCommunication(Half-Life)"hasbeencoveredbyover27gamingpublications.[63][64] OnFebruary4,theSteamgroup"ACallforCommunication"organizes"ARedLetterDay",agroupeventwhichinvolvesplayingHalf-Life2,aimedatputtingthefranchisebackinthespotlight,drawingmorepeopletotheircauseandsimply"beahugegroupofHalf-Lifefansplayingoneofthebestgamesevermade".ThoughhopesalsoarethatHalf-Life2wouldreachthetoptengamesplayedforthatday,itonlyreaches#11,withamaximumof13,216concurrentplayers.[64][65][66]Awebsiteisalsolaunchedthepreviousdaytomarktheeventandcoordinatethefutureones. InApril,GabeNewellisinterviewedbytheSevenDayCooldownpodcast.Hisinterviewerasked,"Myfinalquestionandthequestioninthebackofallyourfans'mindsandeveryonehasbeenwaitingtoaskyouforalongtime:WhencanweexpectthereleaseofRicochet2?"AnaudiblyamusedNewellresponded,"IntermsofRicochet2,wealwayshavethisproblemthatwhenwetalkaboutthingstoofarinadvance,weendupchangingourmindsaswe'regoingthroughanddevelopingstuff,soaswe'rethinkingthroughthegiantstoryarcwhichisRicochet2,youmightgettoapointwhereyou'resayingsomethingissurprisingusinapositivewayandsomethingissurprisingusinanegativeway,and,youknow,we'dliketobesuper-transparentaboutthefutureofRicochet2.Theproblemis,wethinkthatthetwistsandturnsthatwe'regoingthroughwouldprobablydrivepeoplemorecrazythanjustbeingsilentaboutit,untilwecanbeverycrispaboutwhat'shappeningnext." Itseemsmorethanlikelythattheterm"Ricochet2"isacode-nameforthenextHalf-Lifegame,asRicochetitselfwasamultiplayermodfortheoriginalHalf-LifethatisconsideredoneoftheworstgamesValvehasreleased(andmoreimportantly,doesnotevenhaveaplot).Whenaskedifthoseworkingontheprojecthavemovedontoothergames,Newellresponds,"No,everybodywhohasworkedonRicochet2continuestoworkonRicochet2."[67] OnJune1,theTwitteraccount"BreenGrub"beginsposting.[68]MarcLaidlaw,themainwriteroftheHalf-Lifeserieslaterconfirms,"Basicallyit'smewritingDr.Breenfanfic."Helaterexplains,"IpersonallycannotgivetheworldaHalf-Lifegame.AllIcanpersonallydo,atleastfornow,isstufflikethis."[69] OnJune9,GabeNewellappearsinavideoblacksmithingacrowbar.Heisasked,"Hey,isthataboutready?"towhichhereplies,"Thesethings,theytaketime."[70][71] OnAugust17,avideoisreleasedinwhichGabeNewelljokinglysays,"You'llnevergetHalf-Life3ifyoueatme."[72]Thissuggeststhatthegame,ifreleased,wouldbecalled"Half-Life3". OnAugust14,MadCatzpublishesacomputer-generatedpromotionalvideofortheirnewkeyboardinwhichaHalf-Life3logoisvisibleamongothericons.[73] 2013 Duringthisyear,aprototypeofHalf-Life3isdeveloped,whichwouldfeatureamixofscriptednarrativecontentandprocedurallygeneratedcombatscenarios,inspiredbythegameplayofLeft4Dead2.ThegamehadadifficultproductionduetotheunfinishedstateoftheSource2engineitwasbuilton,andwaseventuallycanceled.[74] OnFebruary6,GabeNewell,andJ.J.AbramsofBadRobotProductionsheldapresentationtogether,titled'StorytellingAcrossPlatforms:WhoBenefitsMost,theAudienceorthePlayer?'Inthepresentation,Abramsrevealed,"There'sanideawehaveforagamethatwe'dliketoworkwithValveon."Newellthenresponded,"We'resuperexcitedaboutthat,andwe'realsointerestedinworkingwithyouguysonmovies.So,we'regoingtofigureoutifwecanmakeaPortalmovieorHalf-Lifemovietogether.Butit'sreallytimeforusandforindustriestostoptalkingaboutpotentialsandtrytoexecuteonthem."[75]ThiswasthefirstofficialannouncementonHalf-Lifeseriessince2011. OnMarch28,2013,DavidGoldfarb,avideogamedesigner,tweeted"SawValvetoday.Theyhaveverynicethings."Auserreplied"hl3confirmed?"towhichGoldfarbsaid:"mysilencemustbeinterpretedassilence."Theuserrepliedagainwith"Replytothistweetifhl3isconfirmed."Goldfarbrepliedwith"Iwillshowmyanswerwithsomeinterpretativedance.Lookclosely."[76] OnJune19,Valve'sinternalHalf-Life3grouplistisleaked.Themailinglistincludes42people.Valvehadapproximately300employeesatthetime.[5] OnAugust15,JohnPatrickLowrie,avoiceactorinmanyofValve'sgames,claimsthatHalf-Life3hasn'tbeenreleasedyetbecauseValveisstillworkingonbettermotioncapturetechnologywhichwouldallowin-gamecharacterstoadjusttheirmovementsdependingonplayer'sactions.[77]Lowrielaterclarified"Themostimportantthingtoknowaboutvoiceactorsisthatwe’rethelasttoknowanything.[...]whateverGabeNewellhastosayaboutaprojectisthebestinfoyou’regoingtoget."[78] OnAugust20,afanwhohadrecentlytouredValve'sheadquartersshareswhattheirguidehadtoldthemaboutHalf-Life3."IfItoldyouanythingaboutityou'djusthavemorequestions.Weonlyhaveelements.Bitsandpiecesofgame.Nostructure.Nostory."[79] OnSeptember1,Valve'sHalf-Life3grouplistisleakedagain.Thelistnowincludes46people,4morethanlasttime.Alsoleakedisanew"Half-Life3Core"list,including10peoplefromthelargergroup.[80] OnSeptember29,thetrademark"HALF-LIFE3"isfiled,[81]andthreedayslateronOctober2,"PORTAL3"isfiled.[82]BothtrademarksareapparentlyfiledbyValvebutlaterdisappear. 2014 OnJanuary3,aninterviewwithGabeNewellisreleased.Init,heexplains"Whenwestartedoutwewereasingle-playervideogamecompanythatcouldhavebeenreallysuccessfuljustdoingHalf-LifesequelafterHalf-Lifesequel,butwecollectivelysaidlet'strytomakemulti-playergameseventhoughthere'sneverbeenacommercialsuccessfulmultiplayergame."[83] OnMay23,formerValveemployee,MinhLe,wholeftfiveyearsearlier,statedthathehadseenconceptartofwhatlookedlikeitwasintheHalf-Lifeuniverse.[84] 2015 ValvestartsdevelopingTheLab,acollectionofminigamesandexperiencesinVirtualRealitytopromotetheHTCViveheadsetandSteamVRplatform.OneofthegamesinproductionwasknownasShooter,anarcade-likeFPSsetintheHalf-Lifeuniverse.Thegamecouldn'tbefinishedduetoalimiteddevelopmenttime.[74] Inthesameperiod,writerMarkLaidlawstartsworkingonaVRprototypecalledBorealis,whichwouldletplayersexploretheeponymousshipmentionedinEpisode2.Thisprojectfailedtogaintractioninternallyandwascanceled.[74] OnMarch3,ValveofficiallyannouncedtheSource2engine,[85]whichisusedforthefirsttimelaterthatyear,onJune17,whenValvereleasestheRebornBetaforDota2.[86] InaninterviewwithKotakuinMarch,JeepBarnettrevealedValvehadbeenexperimentingwiththecharactersanddesignassetsofHalf-Lifeinvirtualreality,buthecouldnotconfirmanactualVRHalf-Lifegamewasinworksorwouldevenbemade:"We'renotsaying,'no,'butwedon'tknowwhattherightthingis[yet]."[87] OnMarch19,GabeNewell,touchesonthefutureoftheHalf-Lifeseries,thoughneitherconfirmsordeniesfutureventureswiththeseries.[88]Hediscusses(paraphrasedforconciseness): "IfsomebodylikesTeamFortressthey'dliketoseewhatwecandowithTeamFortress,orLeft4Dead,orHalf-Life[...]weloveallthosegames,weloveallthosecharacters,anduniverses,andstorylines,andwehavenoshortageofopportunities." "Ifyouthinkofeachofourfranchisesrepresentingatool,youjustwannapickuptherighttoolattherighttime." "I'mafanofTVshows,[...]I'mafanofgames,andIcertainlyunderstandwhypeoplearelike,'Hey,IrememberthisawesomeexperienceandI'mstartingtogetworriedthatI'mnevergonnagettohaveitagain.'[...]soweunderstandit,andwefeelthat,andwethinkattheendofthedaycustomersaregonnabereallyhappywithwherewespentourtimeandhowwe'veturnedthatintoentertainmentforthem." "Theonlyreasonwe'dgobackanddoasuper-classickindofproductisifawholebunchofpeopleinternallyatValvesaidthattheywantedtodoitandhadareasonableexplanationforwhy[theydid],butifyouwannadoanotherHalf-Lifegame,andyouwannaignoreeverythingwe'velearned,[...]thatseemslikeabadchoice,sowe'llkeepmovingforward,butthatdoesn'tnecessarilyalwaysmeanwhatpeopleareworriedthatitmightmean." OnJune9,ValvereleasedtheSteamVRappDestinations,withthecommunityinvestigatingifitcontainedanyreferencingnewtitles.Amongthestringsofdatafoundwassomethingcalled"HLVR,"withvariousfamiliarweapontitlesandpropsfromtheHalf-Lifeseriesamongtheentities.[89]ThiswasthefirstsuggestionthataVRHalf-LifetitlewasbeingseriouslyconsideredbyValve. OnJuly24,TheKnowreleasesaYouTubevideoclaimingtohavereceivedinformationfromananonymoussourcewithinValve.[90]Thesourceprovidedthefollowing: In2009,Half-Life3waswellintodevelopment,withateamofabout100workingonit,butanumberofthoseemployeeswerelatermovedtoprojectsthatneededimmediateattentionatthetime,suchasLeft4Dead2,Portal2,andDota2. Valve'smanagementisn'tatallinterestedinthegame'srelease,astheyhavenobusinessincentive,alreadymakingplentifulrevenuefromSteamandtheirfreemiumgames(TeamFortress2andDota2),andfurthermoretheyareafraidofreceivingintensenegativebacklashsimilartotheMassEffect3controversyifthegameisn'tperfect.Inresponse,theyhavemovedresourcesawayfromtheprojecttokeepitfrommovingforward.(ThesourcealsostatesthattheMassEffect3controversywasacriticalfactorintheirdecisiontomoveresourcesawayfromtheprojectandthatthisiscommonlyreferencedinValvemanagementwhenaskedinternallyaboutthematter.) Half-Life3iscurrentlystillindevelopmentbutonlybyateamofaroundtenpeople.Thescript,story,andgameeventsarecomplete. OnJuly25,MarcLaidlawrepliestoanemailregardingTheKnow'svideo.Laidlawwrites"Ican'tcommentonValve'sinternalprocess,butIcansaythatitsoundslikesomeoneistrolling.[...]inmyexperienceatValve,fearisthelastthingthatwouldeverdriveadecisionaboutwhattoworkon."[91]Healsoexpressesthat"AHalf-Lifestory[cannot]somehowexistoutsideofagame.[...]TheHalf-Lifestoryisreallyonlyasgoodasthegamethatletsyouplaywithit." OnJuly27,TheKnowreleasesafollow-upvideopresentingadditionale-mailcorrespondencewithMarcLaidlaw.[92] LaidlawtalksaboutValve'sprocessinregardstothescript.Hewrites"Wefeelourwayforwardinawaythatresemblesblindgroping,especiallyinthebeginning.Iwouldn'tevenknowwhatascriptmightcontainuntilwe'vegotafairbitofgameplaythatseemscompelling.Youhaveideasforplaces,scenes,characters,buttheyareveryveryrough...sometimesreflectedonlyinemailsandconversations.Nothinglikeadesigndocumentorascript.Thisismyexperienceanyway."TheKnowcommentthattheythinkLaidlawwasinterpretingtheterm'script'differentlythantheirsource. Healsosays"IcanneverreportonthestateofprojectsatValveexceptinthecontextofproductreleasepublicity.[...]ItispossiblethatwhoevertheanonymoussourceismightbeorhavebeenaValveemployee,butnothingI'veheardleadsmetobelievetheyknowanythingrelevant." TheKnowconcludethatboththeiroriginalsourceandLaidlawareprobablytellingthetruth,theyarejustseeingthesituationfromtwodifferentperspectives.Sowhattheytolduswastrue,fromacertainpointofview. OnJuly26,TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkrespondstotheoriginalTheKnow'svideo.[93] ThewayemployeesatValveworkisdifferentandmanagementdidn'tmoveasValve'sdesksaremovabletosignifytheircollectiveexcitementandinterestinworkingonaspecificproject. Thereisabasistotherumourthatreleasingaless-than-perfectproductregardingHalf-Life3willresultinthebiggestbacklash,butthefactthatfearhasnothingtodowithHalf-Life3beingdeveloped,releasedordelayedisdebunkedbysaidcommentfromLaidlaw. RegardingacommentwhoseLaidlawaboutthestory,McVickernotesthestoryhaschangedimmenselysincethen,pointingouttopriorgamesduringtheirdevelopmentstage. Henotestheshortcomingsofgame-as-a-service. HeconcludesthatTheKnowdidnotunderstandValvenorfact-checkthesourcebeforetakingittooseriously. OnSeptember24,ChetFaliszek,co-writerontheHalf-LifeandPortalfranchises,statedthatHalf-Life3wouldnotbeinVR.[94] OnSeptember26,Destinationswasupdated,withmoreentitiesfromthe"HLVR"appearinginthedata,replacingtheinitialentitiesfoundintheoriginalapp,suggestingcontinuedprogresswasbeingmadeontheproject.[89] OnOctober10,anupdateforDota2isreleasedthatincludesfourfiles:hl3.txt,rpg.txt,lights.txt,andai_basenpc.txt.TheydescribepossiblefeaturessuchasVRsupport,questsandNPCsquads.[95] OnDecember15,VRFocusreportsthatinarecentinterviewwithKenBirdwell,asoftwaredeveloperatValvewhoworkedonmostofthetitlesintheHalf-Lifefranchise,"suggestedthataHalf-LifeVRvideogamewould'fatigue'playerswithinfiveminutes,althoughit'spossiblethatthecompanyusestheseries'fictiontobuildanewkindofexperience."[96] OnDecember6,Half-Life3amongothertitlesappearonaleakedSteamDatabaselist.[97] 2016 OnJanuary8,Half-LifewriterMarcLaidlawconfirmshisrecentresignationfromValveandretirementfromvideogamewriting.[98] OnFebruary,thefirstprototypeforanewVirtualRealityHalf-Lifegameiscreated.Thegame,whichwouldbecomeHalf-Life:Alyx,startsproperdevelopmentlaterthisyear.[74] OnFebruary7,Half-LifeanimatorDougWoodconfirmshisrecentresignationfromValveandretirementfromvideogameanimation.[99] OnMarch11,J.J.AbramsconfirmsthattheHalf-LifeandPortalmovieshavewritersattachedtotheprojects.[100] ThetenthanniversaryoftheannouncementofHalf-Life2:EpisodeThreecomesonMay22.Severalarticlesregardingtheanniversaryarepublished,butValveissilent.[101] TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkreportedonOctober9thatanotherreferencetotheHLVRprojectappearedinanewDota2update,revealinganewstringofcodethatwouldrequiretheplayertospeak.Henotedthatthestill-unannouncedproject'supdatedcodeoverthepastyearsuggesteditwasstillbeingworkedon,althoughnothingsuggestedwhetheritwasafullgameorjustademo.[89] 2017 InearlyJanuary,GameInformerreleasesaninterviewwithananonymoussourcewithinValve.Thesourceprovidedthefollowing:[102] Overtheyears,thereareprototypesofthenextHalf-Lifegame,rangingfromanRTSgametoalive-actionchoice-drivenexperience. Thereareinfluencersanddecision-makers,andGabeNewellistheheadofthegroup. TheteambehindHalf-Life3hadtwoorthreepeopleworkingonitbeforerunningintoawall,andsometeamshavereachedupto30or40peoplebeforeitwasscrapped. EverytimeaHalf-Lifeprojectcollapsed,itbecomesharderforthesubsequentonetogetofffromtheground. OnJanuary17,GabeNewellhostsanAMAonthenewsubredditdedicatedtohim.ThoughheneitherconfirmsnordeniestheexistenceofanotherHalf-Lifegame,hedoessayafewthingsregardingthefutureofthefranchiseandthenow-mythicalHalf-Lifevideogamefollow-up.ThisisValve'sfirstofficialaddressofthefranchisesince2013'skeynotewithJ.J.Abrams. Userjapasthebassasks,"AnychanceofanewIPthattakesplaceinthehalf-life/portaluniverse?Ifeellikethere'salotofstorylefttobeexploredthere.Thanks!"Newell'sreplyissimply,"Yep."[103] UponbeingaskedabouttheHalf-Life/PortalmoviesfromJ.J.Abrams,Newellreplies,"Yep.They'recoming."[104] WhileexplaininghischoiceofPortal2ashisfavoriteValvegameasopposedtotheHalf-Lifeseries,hemakesapointtostate"There'snoinformationinmyresponseaboutwhatwe'lldointhefuture,"inreferencetostatingtheHalf-Lifememoriesareonlyofthingsheregretsdirectorily,clarifyingtofansthatitnotbeinghisfavoritegameisnotnecessarilyasignthatthefranchiseisfinished.[105] Whenaskedwhythecompanydoesnotkeepfansup-to-dateontheirgames,Newellexplains,"Becauseourdecision-makingiswaymoreconditionalthanmostothercompanies.Theonethingwewon'tdoiswasteourcustomers'timeandmoney,whichmeanswewillcancelorchangestuffmuchlaterindevelopment.Trackingourchoiceswouldbeannoyingandfrustrating."ThisservesasareaffirmationofNewell'searlierexplanationsastowhyValveavoidsconfirminganotherHalf-Lifegame.[106] Auserasks,"WhatisthestatusofHalfLife3/HalfLife2Episode3?IsValvestillworkingonanyfully-fledgedsingleplayergames?AnunidentifiedanonymoussourceatValvehassaidthatHalfLife3hasbeencancelled.Isthatsourcelegitimate?"Newellanswers,"Thenumber3mustnotbesaid.Yes.IpersonallybelieveallunidentifiedanonymoussourcesontheInternet."[107] OnFebruary7,aninterviewfromtheyearpriorfeaturingMichaelShapiro(voiceofBarneyCalhoun,TheG-Man,andtheNihilanth)waspublished.WhenaskedifhewasconfidentaboutafutureHalf-Lifegame,heanswered:"Betweentheoriginaltitlesandtheimmensefancreativity,Half-Lifeisincrediblyvibrant,andit’shardtobelievewe’veheardthelastfromtheCombine.I’mnotatlibertytodiscussanydetailedplans,butIregularlyconnectwithplayerswhomakeitclearthatthere’shungerforanotherinstallment.MightthatcomeintheformofafilmcollaborationwithBadRobot,oranewstand-alonerelease?Icertainlyfeeloptimisticaboutthosescenarios,andtheHalf-LifeuniverseisoneI’malwayshappytoinhabit."[108] OnFebruary10,followinganopenmeetingwiththegamingpress,itwasreportedthatValvewasworkingonthreeunspecifiedVRgames.[109] Duringsaidmeeting,TylerMcVickerfromValveNewsNetworkshowedtheValveVRteamaphotomakingtheroundsofawomanattheValveofficeusingaVive,withacomputerscreeninthebackgroundshowingaHalf-Life3icononit.TheValveteam,whichincludedGabeNewellhimself,wereamusedbythephoto,butadmittedbothitandrecentoccasionsofValveemployeeswearingHalf-Life3shirtsatGDCwerestaffmemberstrollingfans.GregCoomeradmittedtheiconhadbeenfloatingaroundtheValveofficeforquitesometime.NewellavoidedansweringquestionsabouttherumoredHalf-LifeVRprojectMcVickerhadbeenreportingonforthepastfewmonths.[110] OnApril1,aReddituserreportedthatValvehadplacedinthelobbyoftheirbuildingaposterannouncingaHalf-Life3releaseparty"tomorrow,"evidentlyasanAprilFools'Dayjoke.ThisappearstoconfirmNewell'sstatementinFebruarythatmostHalf-Life3referencesbyValvewereemployeestrollingfans.[111] AccordingtoaformerwriterfortheseriesMarcLaidlawinaninterviewreleasedonJuly19,theendingofHalf-Life2:EpisodeThreewouldhavehadnodefiniteconclusion,andthathewouldhavekeptthingsopenforfuturesequelsandanewteamtotakeoverthereignsoftheseries.ThisappearstocallbacktoclaimsthatGabeNewellmadeyearsprior,inwhichEpisodeThreewouldhaven'thavebeentheconclusiontotheHalf-LifeseriesbutrathertheendofthestoryarcsetupwithHalf-Life2.DuringtheinterviewwhenaskedifHalf-Life3wouldbereleased,Marcbluntlystated"noidea"andconfirmedhewouldn'treturntothecompanyevenintheywereinactivedevelopment.[112] IntheearlyhoursofAugust25,MarcLaidlawabruptlyreleasedadocumententitled"Epistle3"onhiswebsite,whichhasbeeninterpretedasasynopsisforthestill-unreleasedHalf-Life2:EpisodeThree,withcharacternamesandevengenderschangedtosomewhatnonsensicalyetobviousparallelstotheoriginalcharacters.[113] Thedocumentistitled"Epistle3,"anobviousswitchfrom"Episode3";GordonFreemanbecomes"GertrudeFremont,"AlyxVancebecomes"AlexVaunt,"EliVancebecomes"EllyVaunt,"JudithMossmanbecomes"JerryMaas,"WallaceBreenbecomes"WandaBree,"theG-Manbecomes"Mrs.X,"theVortigauntsbecome"theGhastlyhaunts,"theCombinebecomes"theDisparate,"theSeven-HourWarbecomes"TheNineHourArmageddon,"ApertureSciencebecomes"TocsinIslandResearchBase,"andtheBorealisisreferredtoasitsBetaname"Hyperborea." TheplotdescribesthememorialserviceforEliVanceandtheRebellion'ssubsequentdecisiontogotothecoordinatesdescribedbyJudithMossman.GordonandAlyxflytowardstheArcticbutaredownedbeforetheyreachit.WhileinvestigatingMossman'scoordinates,alreadysurroundedbyaCombineinstallation,theydiscovertheBorealisisactuallyphasinginandoutofexistence,andthecoordinatesweremerelywhereMossmanexpectedittonextappear.TheyarethencapturedbyfollowersofthelateWallaceBreen,whoseconsciousnessatanearliertimeisrevealedtohavebeenuploadedintoaslug(asLaidlaw'sBreenGrubTwitteraccountrelated).TheslugfearsGordon,knowinghisoriginalbody'sfate,butbegsforaquickdeath––Breen'sfatewouldhavebeenleftintheplayer'shands.TheythenfindMossmanimprisonedbytheCombine,wheresheandAlyxhaveatensereunionasAlyxblamesherforherfather'sdeath.TheyfreeMossmanandafterabrieffirefightmanagedtogettheBorealistostayinoneplacelongenoughforthemtogetonboardbeforeitreturnstojumpingbetweenuniverses.TheythendiscoverthatApertureSciencehadbeenusingtheBorealistoexperimentonsomethingcalledthe"BootstrapDevice,"whichcouldemitafieldlargeenoughtoteleportitinstantaneouslytoanywhere.WhentheCombineinvaded,thepanickingscientiststurnedonthedevice,sendingtheBorealistotheArcticwithoutrealizingthedevicecouldalsoteleportitthroughtimeandwasnotnecessarilyboundtoonetimeorlocation.ThustheBorealiswasstretchedacrosstimeandspacebetweenthedrydockandtheArctic.TheyarethenleftwiththechoicetoruntheBorealisagroundintheArcticsoitcouldbestudied,ortodestroyitwithallhandsonboard,hopefullystoppingthenextCombineinvasion.Mossmanarguesfortheformersoitcanhelptheresistance,butAlyxswearsbyherfather'sfinalcommandtodestroytheship.Inanensuingstruggle,Mossmangetstheupper-handandpreparestogroundtheBorealisbutiskilledbyAlyx,whowithGordonturnstheBorealisintoatime-travelingmissileheadingstraightfortheCombine'scommandcenter.TheG-ManthenappearstoAlyx,whorecognizeshimfromherchildhood,andleadsheraway,leavingGordonstuckontheBorealis.SeeingtheBorealis'sdestination,GordongrimlyrealizesthattheshipwilldolittleifanythingtostoptheCombine,andthathisdeathwillessentiallybeinvain.Beforetheshipcancollide,theVortigauntsappearandquicklyrescueFreeman.Freemanlaterawakensonabeachatsomeuncertainpointinthedistantfuture,wherehenoticestheterrainhaschanged.ItisthenleftambiguouswhetherornothumanitysucceededindefeatingtheCombine,althoughFreemanrealizesthatthoseheonceknewarelonggone. Laidlawreferstothesynopsisas"fanfic,"specifically"agenderswappedsnapshotofadreamIhadmanyyearsago."[114]Hehasstressedthatthedocumentmerelydescribesideasthatwouldhavebeenexpandeduponorevenchangedovertime(citinganumberofexamples,includingamoreambiguousfateforMossmanandapossibleendingwhereFreemanfoundhimselfbackatBlackMesaatthebeginningoftheoriginalHalf-Life[115]),andthatwhateverEpistle3representsdoesnotnecessarilyequalacanonendingtotheHalf-Lifesaga.[116] OnAugust27,2017,whiledoingafollow-upreportonLaidlaw'sreleaseofEpistle3,TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkrevealedthatwhileinspectingthedatesontheleakedEpisodeOneandTwomapsfromspringofthatyear,heandmodderJackathandiscoveredthatsomeofthecontentwereactuallytestmapsandweaponsthatwereworkedonrightupuntil2014:whileearliermapswerelikelyleftoverfromEpisodeThree'sdevelopment,somecameafterNewell's2011statementthatValvewasdonewiththeepisodicmodel,thustheywerelikelyfromthedevelopmentofthehighlyspeculativeHalf-Life3,whichwasattheveryleaststillindevelopmentin2014.McVickerandJackathanreleasedanaccompanyingmod,titled"Half-Life2:Aftermath,"whichmakestheleakedmapsandsomeofthelostHalf-Life2:EpisodeThreeentitiesplayable.[117] October10,2017markedtenyearssincethereleaseofTheOrangeBoxandHalf-Life2:EpisodeTwoitself.AlthoughValvedidreflectuponTheOrangeBox,nothingaboutanotherHalf-Lifegamewasbroughtupdespiteitbeingadecadesincethelastgame.[118] 2018 OntheweekendofFebruary15th-19th,theLunarNewYear,yearoftheDogSteamsaleincludedimagesofdogsfromvideogames,andincludedDogfromHalf-Life2.[119] OnFebruary22,aHalf-LifepackwasannouncedfortheSteamversionofFinalFantasyXV.GordonFreeman'sHEVsuit,glasses,andcrowbarwouldbeavailableinthegametopeoplewhopre-order.[120] Inthevideofortheannouncement,FinalFantasyXVdirectorHajimeTabatawaswearingaheadcrabhat,andhesaid"theHALF-LIFEteamatValvesentittohim"thismightmeanthatthereisstillaHALF-LIFEteamatValve.[121] OnJune13th,manylinesofcodereferringtoVortigaunts,VRpistols,Xen,zombies,Physguns,andHLVRwereleakedfromaDota2andSteamVRupdate. OnJuly12th,linesofcodewereleakedfromSteamVR.Theselinesrefertodustmotes,Xenparticulate,snowparticles,andXenspores. OnNovember10,TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkreportedsomeupdatesonHLVRbasedonfurtherleaks:itisplannedtobeasingle-playernarrativefirst-personshooter,mostlikelythefirstofitskindinVRgames;itwillmostlikelybereleasedwhenValve'snewin-developmentVRheadsetisfinished,followingNintendo'smodelofpairinggameswithnewhardware;andthefinalleak,whichwasconfirmedwiththreeotherunnamedsources,suggestsHLVRwillbeaprequeltoHalf-Life2.[122] 2019 OnJune14,TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkreportsoffurtherHLVRleaks,andnotestheleakssuggesttheprojecthasenteredcrunchtime.[123] OnNovember18,12yearsafterthereleaseofHalf-Life2:EpisodeTwoandthedaybeforethe21stanniversaryofthereleaseoftheoriginalHalf-Life,ValveannouncesHalf-Life:Alyx,theflagshipVRtitle,ontheirTwitteraccount.[2] November21sawthereleaseoftheofficialrevealtrailerforHalf-Life:Alyx,scheduledforreleaseinMarch2020.Simultaneously,pre-ordersforthegameopened,are-designoftheofficialHalf-Lifewebsitewasreleased,andavideofeaturingGeoffKeighleywasuploadedontheVideoGameAwardsYouTubechannelrevealingthathewouldbewritingTheFinalHoursofHalf-Life:Alyx,coveringthehistoryofdevelopmentontheHalf-LifeseriesfollowingthereleaseofEpisodeTwo.[8] Inanaccompanyinginterview,Valve'sRobinWalkerexplainedthatatthetimedevelopmentbeganin2016onwhateventuallybecameHalf-Life:Alyx,thecompanyhadseriouslyconsideredmakingHalf-Life3manytimesandhadevenexperimentedwithafewgamingconcepts.However,theprospectofcreatingsuchahotlyanticipatedgameproved"terrifyinglydaunting"forthedevelopers,buttheinnovationofcreatingafullVRtitlethatdidnothavetheinfamyattachedtoitlikeHalf-Life3wascreativelyexciting.WalkerandhisfellowemployeesremainedcoyonthesubjectofwhetherHalf-Life:AlyxcouldbridgethegaptowardsaVR-basedHalf-Life3,notingtheywouldhavetoseehowHalf-Life:Alyxwasreceived. 2020 OnMarch3rd,IGNrevealsthefirstdirect-feedgameplayofanearlystageofHalf-LifeAlyx,aspartofthe"IGNFirst"program. OnMarch23rd,2020,Half-Life:AlyxreleasesonSteam,makingitthefirstofficialHalf-Lifeinstallmentintwelveyears. InaninterviewpublishedthedayofHalf-Life:Alyx'srelease,RobinWalkerfullyexplainedwhathadhappenedwithHalf-Life2:EpisodeThreeandthestatusofthenear-mythicalHalf-Life3.Essentially,theHalf-Life2episodeswereintendedtosolvetheissueoflengthbetweenHalf-Lifegames,butwhenitcametimefortheconclusionoftheepisodictrilogytheteamcouldnotfigureoutasufficientlyspectacularfinalgamethatcapturedtheemotiontheyassociatedwiththeHalf-Lifeseries,andthatthesolutionwouldbetocreateamuchlargernextinstallmentratherthanEpisodeThree.However,whilemultipleattemptsweremadetocreatethisnextproject,nonegotveryfarindevelopmentandmostnevermadeittothepublicexceptforLaidlaw'sEpistle3,whichWalkernotedwasclosertoseveralideasLaidlawhadfloatingaroundinhisheadthannecessarilywhatEpisodeThreewouldhavebeen.[124] OnJuly9th,TheFinalHoursofHalf-Life:Alyxwasreleased.ThedigitalbookdetailsthedevelopmentofHalf-Life:AlyxandtheprototypesofothercanceledValveprojects,includingHalf-Life3.ThebookalsomentionsanunannouncedValvegameindevelopmentsince2018.[74] OnDecember3rd,TylerMcVickerofValveNewsNetworkreportedthattheunannouncedgamementionedinFinalHoursisanasymmetricmultiplayergamefeaturingVRanddesktopmodes,knowninternallyasCitadel,andwillsupposedlytakeplaceintheHalf-Lifeuniverse(althoughhenotedthegame'srelationshiptothefranchisehadchangedmultipletimesduringdevelopmentandwassubjecttochangeagain).[125] 2022 OnMarch1,ApertureDeskJobwasreleased.OnMarch8,TylerMcVickerreportedhisfindingsfromdataminingthegame,reportingthattherewasleftovercodefromatleastfourValvegames:aSource2portofCounter-Strike:GlobalOffensive,a"follow-up"toHalf-Life:Alyx,anapparentrevivaloftheF-STOPprojecttitledSteamPal,andtheaforementionedCitadel.McVickerofferedthecaveatthat,asyearspasthadshown,theleaksdidnotnecessarilyreflectprojectsinactivedevelopmentoronesthatwouldnecessarilycomeoutoneday,butthatCitadelinparticularhadasignificantamountofnotesthatsuggesteditwasinanadvancedstageofdevelopment.[126] WithregardstoCitadel,McVickerreportedthatitappearedtobeagamecenteredaroundaCombinevs.Rebelsconflict,usingasquad-based,class-basedRTS/FPShybrid.Supposedly,thegamemainlyinvolvestheplayersbeinggivencontrolofsquadsofAIbots,whichtheycancontrolfromabird'seyeviewordropdownintothebattlefieldandtakedirectcontrolofthecommanderorothersquadmembers.McVickeralsofoundevidencethatCitadelwasdesignedtoworkonbothVRandtraditionalflatscreenPCsetups.[126] References ↑1.01.1PCGamer,May2006 ↑2.02.1Valve'sannouncementofHalf-Life:AlyxonTwitter ↑3.03.1"Half-Life:AlyxisofficiallycomingMarch2020,andhere’syourfirstlook"onTheVerge ↑4.04.1TheValvemanifestoatDevelop ↑5.05.1Half-Life3,Left4Dead3,Source2+MuchmorefoundonValve'sprojecttracker(Archived) ↑6.06.1"ACallForCommunication/MessageToValve"MovementStillGoing,NowHasItsOwnSteamGrouponLambdaGeneration ↑7.07.1"Operation:Crowbar"–CrazyFansPayMoney…ToSendValveCrowbars…ToGetAcrossAHalf-Life“Message”onLambdaGeneration ↑8.08.1TheFinalHoursofHalf-Life:Alyx--BehindClosedDoorsatValveonYouTube ↑WhoisRecordForHalf-Life3.com ↑Half-Life2:EpisodeOnegold,Twodated,ThreeannouncedonGameSpot ↑ConceptArtLeakedForCancelledHL2:EpisodeFour?onLambdaGeneration ↑OpeningtheValveonEurogamer ↑ValvecommentsonEpisodeThreeprogressonEurogamer ↑RPSInterview:EpisodeTwo’sDavidSpeyreronRock,Paper,Shotgun ↑15.015.115.2ThefirstconceptartfromHalf-Life2:EpisodeThreeonGamesRadar ↑Half-Life3onStuffWeLike.com ↑HL2:EpisodeThreeConceptArtLeaked[UPDATED]onLambdaGeneration ↑EXCLUSIVE:Half-Life2:Episode3ConceptArt(Archived) ↑TonySergianswerontheSteamUsers'Forums ↑2008contestwinnersatIntothePixel ↑21.021.1Interview:Valve'sDougLombardionVideoGamesDaily ↑MyHL2EP3TrailerbyMIXMEDiAonYouTube ↑FAKEEpisode3MapsforHalf-Life2:Ep2onModDB ↑Left4Dead2GameAdd-on#1attheSteamNews ↑25.025.1TheEpisodeTwoSPUF’s“MessagetoValve”PetitionHasHit1,000Signatures!onLambdaGeneration ↑26.026.1MessagetoValveontheSteamUsers'Forums ↑GabeNewellw/DeafCharacter-PartTwoonYouTube ↑SteamcastEpisode#9:"ExclusiveinterviewwithGabeNewell" ↑GabeNewell:NextHalf-LifeneedstoscareonComputerAndVideoGames.com[deadlink,archivedhere] ↑PortalPatchAddsMorseCode,Achievement-Portal2SpeculationBeginsonShacknews ↑GabeNewell:NextHalf-Lifewon'tchangeGordonFreemanonComputerAndVideoGames.com[deadlink,archivedhere] ↑HalfLife2:Episode3foundintheAlienSwarmSDK!ontheSteamUsers'Forums ↑HowValvewillchangePS3onComputerAndVideoGames.com[deadlink,archivedhere] ↑'WhenisHalf-Life2:Episode3comingout?''What?Sorry,wecan'thearyou...'atNews.com.au ↑ValveSoftware2011VideoInterviewatAusGamers.com ↑Newell:ValvetoReplaceSingle-PlayerWith"Single-PlayerPlus"atTheEscapist ↑Half-LifeCodeFoundInsidePortal2SDKonLambdaGeneration ↑NewHalf-LifeChoreographyFilesForDoctorMagnusson,FoundInPortal2onLambdaGeneration ↑Half-Life2EP3-MagnussonanimationsonYouTube ↑WhenisHalf-LifeEpisode3Coming?YouKnowtheAnswerat1UP ↑FansPicketforHL3OutsideofValveHQ,AreGreetedByGabeHimselfonLambdaGeneration ↑FanspicketingoutsideofValve’sofficeforHL3atHalflife2.net ↑Day2oftheValveprotest-Stillholdingstrong.onReddit ↑WhatBecameOfTheHL3Protest?onLambdaGeneration ↑WhatDidGabeNewellSaytotheHalf-Life3Protesters?onKotaku ↑Dota2ClientLeaked–IncludingActualHL2:EpisodeThreeCodeonLambdaGeneration ↑HalfLife2:Episode3SameOldStoryatAttackoftheFanboy ↑InformantCloseToValveTellsValveARGNetworkAdmin,AndSteamcastCo-Host:“GabeHasGivenTheGo-AheadForHalf-LifeHints”onLambdaGeneration ↑Let’sDebunkSomeFakeHalf-Life3RumorsWithVic:FakeE-Mails,FakeTwitterAccounts,AndMore/DevelopmentofthenextHalf-LifegameonLambdaGeneration ↑MarcLaidlawConfirmsThatThereIsNoHalf-Life3ARGonLambdaGeneration ↑ChetFaliszek'sreactiontotherumorsandtheARGontheSteamUsers'Forums ↑ChandanaEkanayakeonTwitter ↑Half-Life3T-ShirtConfirmed,ButThatisAllonKotaku ↑MarcLaidlawConfirmsThatThereIsAHalf-Life3ShirtOutThere…WithAVagueAndSuspiciousNon-AnsweronLambdaGeneration ↑Valvevoiceactorworkingon"HalfLife:Episode3"atXbox360-TheOfficialMagazine ↑STEAMHOLIDAYSALE-DAYFIVEattheSteamNews ↑ValveTeasesHalf-Life3ThroughHiddenSteamStoreImage;AndMoreStrangeHalf-LifeHintsAndCluesonLambdaGeneration ↑EllengetsnominatedforaVGAaward,Part3:Intothebellyofthebeast.atJohnPatrickLowrie'sBlog ↑BizarreIn-GameCS:GlobalOffensiveWhiteboardSurfaces:IndicatesAnAugust2012ReleaseDateForCS:GO,AndMoreWeirdHalf-LifeAndNumber3References–CouldDoctorBreenStillBeAlive?/DevelopmentofthenextHalf-LifegameonLambdaGeneration ↑Prediction:Half-Life3WillBeUnveiledin2012atIGN ↑MarcLaidlawOnTheCanceledHalf-LifeSpin-offs:ReturnToRavenholmAnd“EpisodeFour”onLambdaGeneration ↑GarryNewmanTrollsFansWithYetAnotherHalf-Life3T-ShirtonLambdaGeneration ↑Aftermath:InviteParty--17,500currentmembersat"ACallforCommunication(Half-Life)"onSteam ↑64.064.1OneMonthLater,TheHalf-LifeCallForCommunicationGroupIsStartingToRampUp,HasMajorEventLinedUponLambdaGeneration ↑CallForCommunication’s“ARedLetterDay”IsSuccessful,WithOver13,000FansPlayingHalf-Life2onLambdaGeneration ↑Let'sPlayHalf-Life2!-Eventat"ACallforCommunication(Half-Life)"onSteam ↑NewellUpdatesInterviewerOnTheStatusof(Wink,Wink)'Ricochet2'onKotaku ↑BreenGrubonTwitter-"sssthssn?" ↑Half-LifewriterMarcLaidlawgoesbacktoBreenwithfanfictionTwitteraccountonPCGamesN ↑Thesethings,theytaketimeonYouTube ↑CLANGbySubutaiCorporationonKickstarter ↑ValvebyGTTVonSPIKE.commirroredcliplinkforrestrictedregions ↑S.T.R.I.K.E.7KeyboardReleaseVideoonYouTube ↑74.074.174.274.374.4TheFinalHoursofHalf-Life:AlyxonSteam ↑StarTrek'sJJAbramsandValve'sGabeNewell-FullKeynoteSpeech-D.I.C.E.SUMMIT2013onYouTube ↑DavidGoldfarbonTwitter ↑Valve'svoiceactor:HL3notindevforseveralreasons;insufficientMo-CaptechonNeoGAF ↑LinkedcommentbyJohnPatrickLowrieonJohnPatrickLowrie'sBlog ↑MyGuitarIsOnFirecommentsonIgotatouratVALVe!AMAonreddit ↑ValveJiraDatabaseaccessedoncemore-HL3/L4D3/Source2groupsexpand(Archived) ↑Valvefilestrademarkfor...onNeoGAF ↑FAKE:EuropeanHalf-Life3/Portal3trademarksfiled(Archived) ↑GabeNewellonwhatmakesValvetickonTheWashingtonPost ↑Minh"Gooseman"LeInterview-TheCreatorofCounter-StrikebygoRGNtvonTwitch ↑Source2announced,SteamVR,SteamLinkandmoreatGDConValve'sOfficialWebsite ↑Dota2-RebornBeta ↑Kotaku-"Yep,ValveIsExperimentingWithHalf-LifeInVR."March5,2015. ↑#1:GabeNewellandErikJohnsonfromValve(at~39:30)onGameSlice ↑89.089.189.2ValveNewsNetwork."EverythingKnownAboutHalfLive:VR."YouTube.October9,2016. ↑Half-Life3WillNeverRelease,Here'sWhy-TheKnowonYouTube ↑MarcLaidlawrespondstofan,confirmingthatTheKnow'sRumorwasFALSEbyhitaleconreddit ↑Half-Life3Follow-Up:ValveWriterResponds?-TheKnowonYouTube ↑HalfLife3WILLRelease,Here'sWhy ↑EGX2015DeveloperSessiononYouTube ↑Whataretheleaked"hl3.txt"and"rpg.txt"filesallabout?(Archived) ↑Valve:Half-LifeVRWould'fatigue'Playersin5MinutesonVRFocus ↑SteamHelpdeskSite:Lotsofupcominggamesmaybeleak,slowlygettingconfirmedonNeoGAF ↑Confirmed:MarcLaidlawretiresfromValve(Archived) ↑Half-LifeanimatorDougWoodisretiring(Archived) ↑J.J.Abrams:Portal,Half-LifemoviesstillhappeningonIGN ↑After10yearsofwaiting,Half-Life2:Episode3seemsfurtherawaythaneveronEurogamer ↑https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/01/11/searching-for-half-life-3.aspx ↑GabeNewellanswersonReddit-Yep. ↑GabeNewellanswersonReddit-Yep.They'recoming. ↑GabeNewellanswersonReddit-[...]There'snoinformationinmyresponseaboutwhatwe'lldointhefuture.[...] ↑GabeNewellanswersonReddit-[...]Trackingourchoiceswouldbeannoyingandfrustrating. ↑GabeNewellanswersonReddit-Thenumber3mustnotbesaid.Yes.IpersonallybelieveallunidentifiedanonymoussourcesontheInternet.[...] ↑'It'shardtobelievewe'veheardthelastfromtheCombine,'saysthevoiceofHalf-Life'sG-ManonPCGamer ↑Valveismakingthree"full"VRgamesonEurogamer ↑InterviewVRTeam-GabeNewell&OthersonYouTube,15minutesin ↑AprilFools:ValveAnnouncesHalf-Life3ReleasePartyonGameRant ↑Half-Life3wouldlikelyhaveendedwithoutresolution,saysMarcLaidlawonPCGamer ↑Epistle3onMarcLaidlaw'sBlog ↑LaidlawonTwitter ↑LaidlawonTwitter ↑LaidlawonTwitter ↑TheHalf-Life3BetaPrototypeMapLeakonYouTube ↑ValvereflectsonTheOrangeBox,tenyearslateronPCGamer ↑RingintheLunarNewYearwithSteam'slatestsaleonRock,Paper,Shotgun ↑FINALFANTASYXVWINDOWSEDITIONEventsontheSteamCommunity ↑FinalFantasyXVWindowsEdition:HajimeTabataCommunityMessage#2onYouTube ↑HLVRStoryLeaksonYouTube ↑HLVRLeakswithinDOTAUnderlordsonYouTube ↑WhyValveGaveUpOn'Multiple'Half-Life3sonKotaku ↑NewInfoonValve'snextGame-CodenameCitadelonYouTube ↑126.0126.1IGNArticleabouttheApertureDeskJobdatamine Real-Worldsubjects Companies GearboxSoftware•JunctionPointStudios•ValveCorporation Productionstaff Artists•Charactermodels•Composers•Voiceactors•Writers•Other Software Achievements•Compilations•Demos•Games(Half-Life•Multiplayer•Non-canon•Portal•Third-party)•GameEngines•HLHDPack•Mods OtherMedia ApertureScience.com•Books(LabRat•RaisingtheBar)•Fancontent(Films•Games•Mods•Series)•Films•Merchandise•PreliminaryFindings•Soundtracks(Songs•Composers)•TheFinalHours(Half-Life•Half-Life2•Half-Life:Alyx•Portal2) Cutcontent Prospero•Half-LifeAlpha•Half-Life2Beta•Half-Life2:EpisodeThree•Half-Life2:EpisodeFour Misc. Canon•Development(Commentary•Half-Life2•Portal•NextHalf-Lifegame)•Mr.Valve•Retcons Categories: Goodarticles Protectedpages Articlescontainingspoilers Games Half-Life2 Half-Life2:EpisodeThree Half-Life2Episodes Deutsch Español CommunitycontentisavailableunderCC-BY-SAunlessotherwisenoted. Advertisement FanFeed 1 Half-Life2 2 Nihilanth 3 Half-Lifestoryline UniversalConquestWiki Let'sGoLuna!Wiki Club57Wiki FollowonIG TikTok JoinFanLab