No Half-Life 2: Episode 3 until 2011?

[Sonic 295]

From GameSpot. Possibly no Half-Life 2: Episode 3 until 2011. Damn!

 

Game Informer's rumor column claims the long-awaited final installment of Valve's iconic series won't arrive until next year--if it arrives at all.

 

What we heard: Last fall, Half-Life series hero Gordon Freeman was voted Greatest Game Hero by GameSpot's users, despite having not been in a new game in two years. The last title to feature the crowbar-wielding physicist was 2007's The Orange Box, which featured Half-Life 2: Episode Two and its two immediate forbearers: 2006's Half-Life 2: Episode One and 2004's Half-Life 2. (The package also included Team Fortress 2 and the award-wining Portal.)

 

Initially, Half-Life 2's episodes were supposed to allow the developer to release new expansion every several months. It began in June 2006 with Episode One (initially subtitled "Aftermath") and was to end "by Christmas 2007" with Episode Three. However, that scheme was derailed when Valve struck a deal with Electronic Arts to distribute the Orange Box. That compilation arrived in October 2007, and since then, Valve has remained mum on the subject of Episode Three, instead focusing on its wildly popular Left 4 Dead series.

 

With nary a peep about Episode Three in 2008 or 2009, many were hoping at least some new information about its release--or fate--would arrive this year. Don't count on it, says Game Informer, which claims to have knowledge that the game won't arrive until 2011--at the earliest. "There won't be any game from the franchise in 2010," the GameStop-owned magazine declared, before raising the possibility of the Half-Life 2 series skipping directly to Half-Life 3 in "a few years."

 

The official story: As of press time, Valve's notoriously recalcitrant PR department had not responded to requests for an update on Episode Three's status.

 

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that Episode Three isn't coming out in 2010. With Half-Life 2: Episode Two already showing its age in 2007, it's likely that Valve wants to take the time to ensure the next Half-Life title to be graphically competitive. Given the visual caliber of today's first-person shooters, that may require a true sequel with all-new technology.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6246873.html

[Castleman12 0]

Saw this earlier (brain was kinda dead at the time though), really sucks though =/. Unless they've been working on it since the Orange Box, of course, which they could've been, since you never know about Valve. XD

[PurpleGaga27 40]

First of all, Valve is busy finishing the Left 4 Dead 2 new campaign DLC, up for release in Spring 2010. Calling out for HL2 EP3 is a long way for now, and I am suggesting that Valve must make that third expansion pack to HL2: EP3 with the features they have done in L4D2. Plans are so limited for Valve, so I suggest we give them time, while Activision/Red Octane (on Guitar Hero) and Infinity Ward (on COD) quietly go quick full steam ahead.

 

A move to develop HL3 is a big mistake as most people wanted the story to end as an episode add-on expansion before the sequel can be reached, not a complete sequel. Since Valve is so slow on developing new games (except L4D2), even Bioware and Infinity Ward are way ahead of the developing line.

[BioBen 3]

Goodness needs time to bake, but not for 12 years like some (glares at a certain Duke Nukem Forever), I do not like my games over-cooked.

My only requests for the future HLs is that:

1. They make sure the storyline is the best thing since sliced bread.

2. Well done Valve you have made a physics engine, now no more see-saw puzzles.

Edited January 27, 2010 by BioBen

[Matthewsaaan 0]

The don't seem to have grasped the idea of episodic games really...

[Sonic 295]

The reason for not finishing Half-Life 2's story is simple. Its called Left 4 Dead. If that game turned out to be a bomb Half-Life 2: Ep3 would have been out in late 2008. L4D did well, gets a follow up so Half-Life gets pushed back.

 

I don't think we well see Half-Life 2: Ep3 at all. Anything story related can be saved for Half-Life 3. Which probably want come out until Valve pump out a couple more L4D games.

 

As popular as the L4D franchise the Half-Life franchise it way more popular.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Valve should pull a Blizzard... work on it for a while then break out with the news "HALF-LIFE 3 COMING 2011!" or whenever right out of nowhere. That would be fantastic.

[Guest Stevie_K]

Valve should pull a Blizzard... work on it for a while then break out with the news "HALF-LIFE 3 COMING 2011!" or whenever right out of nowhere. That would be fantastic.

 

No that's horrible. Like when Blizzard yelled "DIABLO 3 COMING!! whenever WoW get's unpopular that is"...

It's kind of the same thing with Valve, HLE3 and L4D. It's an allright game series but I miss Gordon to be honest.

[Malevolence 6]

This is indeed disappointing to hear a delay for the new chapter of HL franchise. I can't believe I have to wait another year for this.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

No that's horrible. Like when Blizzard yelled "DIABLO 3 COMING!! whenever WoW get's unpopular that is"...

Neh. Blizzard works on their franchises without telling the public. I like that... it's an awesome way to do things.

[Guest Stevie_K]

Neh. Blizzard works on their franchises without telling the public. I like that... it's an awesome way to do things.

 

Well. There's good benefits of doing it that way. You won't have to listen to fanatics' "rabble rabble" all the time, and there's no release dates until a month before or so.

[Nmenth 291]

There's good benefits of doing it that way. You won't have to listen to fanatics' "rabble rabble" all the time

What? Have you not seen the Blizzard community? The Blizzard forums are just like the EA forums. Fans are evil complainers that will weed out the good to find the bad in anything. Unfortunately, some games have less good that needs to be weeded through...

[Luk3us 63]

Indeed, fanatics, or as they are generally known as fanbois, are everywhere.

 

I still laugh at the whole bitch fest that was Diablo III and it not being "dark" enough. Fans thinking they have gotten stuck in the WOW mindset.. They wouldn't be the first company to get stuck in the mindset of a previous game, *cough EA, RA3 cough*

[Guest Stevie_K]

I still laugh at the whole bitch fest that was Diablo III and it not being "dark" enough. Fans thinking they have gotten stuck in the WOW mindset.. They wouldn't be the first company to get stuck in the mindset of a previous game, *cough EA, RA3 cough*

 

Heh. Things have gotten a little cartoony lately I agree.

I just think Blizzard have learned not to announce release dates after the Starcraft II "delays".