Valve explained why it never released Half-Life 2: Episode Three – gameplay of the canceled version of the game

In an official documentary published on the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2, Valve employees spoke not only about the development of the legendary shooter, but also about unsuccessful attempts to release its sequel.

Image source: Valve

Let’s remember that after its release in 2004, Half-Life 2 received two episodes: Episode One in 2006 and Episode Two in 2007. Episode Three never came out. At first, the threequel was hampered by the original Left 4 Dead.

The co-op shooter needed help to release, and some of the Episode Three developers were distracted from the main project. By the time the experts decided to return to creating the game, “it was already too late.”

Concept art of Half-Life 2: Episode Three

The developers admit that they could finish the threequel in one and a half to two years. “It wouldn’t be that hard… But I couldn’t see how making Episode 3 was moving anything forward,” complains Valve CEO Gabe Newell.

At the time of cancellation, the team had created working versions of several levels. The documentary showed (see video below) a selection of concept art and a couple of developments for Half-Life 2: Episode Three:

• Ice cannon – allowed to form barricades and lay a path of ice underneath;
• Enemy slug – could change shape and split into several smaller slugs.

According to Newell, Half-Life has always been a tool for showing gamers innovation and the promise of unprecedented gaming experiences, and at present, “we have no shortage of such opportunities in the industry.”

According to the findings of data miners, Valve is now busy developing a game codenamed hlx – a non-VR sequel to Half-Life: Alyx, which takes the place of Half-Life 3 in the chronology of the universe.