When it comes to the waiting game, “Half-Life 3” has its fair shares. The video game franchise has been in the market for almost two decades and a follow up to the game is indeed long overdue. However, Valve has apparently not capitalized on anything yet nor do they plan to.
The third edition of the video game has been anticipated over the past years and game maker Valve still hasn’t released anything.
The first edition of “Half-Life” was released in 1998. By 2004, a sequel titled “Half-Life 2” was released.
Avid gamers initially expected that the third version of the game would be released back in 2010 thinking that Valve creates a pattern of six-year gaps in between the game titles of the franchise.
“Half-Life” is amongst the most iconic and popular games in the last two decades and Valve has developed some of the biggest gaming series, News Every Day notes.
The website suggests that the main reason for the delay in the release of “Half-Life 3” was the departure of writer and creative director of the game, Marc Laidlaw.
Laidlaw has been the key person who made the first-person shooter video game possible. Laidlaw has created and directed all “Half-Life” games.
He has been with Valve for 18 years and the gaming community believes that having a “Half-Life 3” without him will not be the same.
Ecumenical News reports that another possible reason for the delay of the game is that Gabe Newell, CEO of Valve, believes that the game is already a classic and he doesn’t want to mess with any of it unless they are really sure they want to do it and it wouldn’t ruin the franchise in its entirety.
“Half-Life” has received acclaim for its graphics, realistic gameplay, and seamless narrative. It won over 50 PC ‘Game of the Year’ awards and is often considered as one of the greatest games of all time.
Newell stated that the only reason Valve will go back working on a super classic kind of game is if a whole bunch of people at Valve will come to him and say that they want to do another “Half-Life” game.
Reports say that the vintage element of the game acts as a major deterrent in his enthusiasm towards the development of the third edition of the popular video game.
Reports also say that people at Valve agree with Newell’s sentiments and so indications rose that the game if indeed it was being developed, has been cancelled already.
Meanwhile, ardent gamers are still not losing hope that a “Half-Life 3” will soon come out. Reports say that the game will be released by 2017 or 2018.
Gamers have noted that should Valve decides that they don’t want to create another “Half-Life” game anymore, they should’ve made it clear a long time ago.
Also, the gaming company has released three pieces of concept arts for the next game which means that they are teasing fans of the franchise.
Some fans believe Valve has scrapped the episodic model and is now working on a full sequel entitled “Half-Life 3.” But Valve employees have consistently refused to comment on the status or nature of the next “Half-Life” game.
One Pastebin user shared that “Half-Life 3” has evolved into a standalone game and a by-product of the “Half-Life 2 Episode 3 cancellation.
The user added that the game will take advantage of the players’ decision-making skills as they are given the freedom to fully interact with almost anything in the upcoming game. He said that the game doesn’t have any cutscenes that will distract the gameplay.
Speculations say that the company is looking forward to releasing the next edition using virtual reality technology at its very own Steam gaming platform to make it possible.
I just want to say as much as I love Valve and the games they make I personally find it disgusting that they refuse to make this game. They stopped their series suddenly without warning on a major cliffhanger, story unresolved. That is not ok. If you are making an episodic game (as they were when they stopped production) you cannot end the project without resolution. What if Telltales “The Walking Dead” ended on episode 4 without resolution? What if Life is Strange decided after episode 4 to not release their conclusion in episode 5. Fans would be outraged. Valves choice is even worse: They released Half-Life 2, then Episodes 1 and 2, and then we haven’t heard a single word from them since. Only now, 10 years later, are they starting to admit they have no plans to make the third game. This is simply dispicable and a huge slap in the face to everyone who has ever played the series. The retro elements are not an excuse: They can revamp and modernize the series with more modern elements. I hope they seriously reconsider their position because this is truly horrible.
I whole-heartedly agree. But I think it is too late for them to reconsider anything. I think at this point, people should realize that Gabe Newell is completely unable to tell us why he feels that he owes his fans absolutely nothing. They’ve told us half a story, and he thinks that we should be grateful for that.
You do know that it means no time in the near future, rather than never, right Connor?