Valve Explains Why Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Was Never Made

Valve explains the reasons behind one of the greatest cliffhangers in gaming history.

[Fluttershy77]

Very clear what he says and understandable... but sadly I think it really hurt the franchise. At the time Half Life 2 was a revolutionary FPS, still holds after so many years (which shows how much of a masterpiece it was), for some people is the best game ever made; but probably an entire generation or even more than one haven't even played it!!!

[ElementX]

I just finished HL2 last night. I had completed it at launch but not with Steam Achievements. The game still holds up nicely. Obviously the textures are crap up close and the vehicles don't maneuver very well, but otherwise the game is still excellent.

[rainslacker]

HL and HL2 still hold up very well today. That's really the mark of great game design. Graphics are easy enough to improve. I imagine if they ever decided to make HL3, that they'd probably do another remaster release like the Orange Box. Millions of people still play Counter-Strike, which was a mod of Team Fortress, which was a mod of Half-Life, so a lot of people are familiar with the game, and I think that even if the game is generations removed, it's the kind of game that people from newer generations still want to try it out.

I think HL3 has more potential to hurt the franchise now, than not releasing it hurt the franchise over the long term. The game has become one of those legendary things that people will put up on a pedestal. It's hard to live up to such things, and people will compare any sequel by today's FPS standards. That'd be a lot to live up to.

[UltraNova]

If Alyx is anything to go by then Valve clearly still has what it takes to complete Freeman's story. So this actually makes the wait for HL3 or HL:2 Ep3 even worse and expectations even higher.

That said Valve should definitely make the next main HL VR compatible or have a separate VR mode at the very least.

[rainslacker]

I'd like to try it. Will have to probably wait until I return to work though as I don't have a PC VR at home. Hard to ignore all the good press about it so far. Never been one of those huge HL fans, but I respect what it achieved, and I like to experience good examples of VR.

[L7CHAPEL]

If They ever did decide to finish it,
and make it part of a remaster,
think of the money they could make.
One of the things I think that made Xbox the original console such a player was the fact that it got doom 3 and half life 2, which was unheard of for any other console...
It certainly made me a believer of what was possible,
and I went on to play both games,
two or three more times.
(Updated different versions of them)

[kryteris]

$$$$

[-Foxtrot]

Because you don't give a shit about fans, the ones who got you where you are today...pretty obvious for the way they've went on for the past decade.

[RabbitFly]

Its not that simple. It becomes a chicken or the egg situation. One could say that the open creative culture that valve is working with should have been put to the side so they could apease the fans, but at the same time. That open culture is what created the master pieces in the first place. In effect it would be kind of oxymoronic to demand valve change their culture to make another half-life When that culture, in itself was part og what made half-life what it is.

[-Foxtrot]

They are in such a good place financially that no one would have minded taken extra time to make a sequel, but to make people wait so long and just beat around the bush every chance you get while focusing on Steam, DoTA 2 and other online stuff is ridiculous. Even when Portal 2 was released people thought they were back but no...they disappeared again and become worse.

Then we finally get a new Half Life game, however it's not Half Life 3....well....okay that's not so bad I guess I can understand the reasons, you want to get back into the swing of things right? Oh wait, hang on it's also a VR exclusive and you'll need a decent PC along with an expensive VR head set to play it.

It's a p*** take, they just don't really care.

[RabbitFly]

I think you are entirely missing the argument I was trying to make.

You, and a lot of other people, want Half-Life 3. However you would potentially not have wanted half-life 3 if the culture within valve was different. Because that would mean the games, would be entirely different.

One could easily argue that one of the major reasons that Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2 plus it's DLC episodes were that good was because the culture within valve was they way it was. For instance. Valve is famous for none of the developers having offices, supposedly including Gabe Newell. Instead they all have desks with wheels so they can freely move from project to project. And generally you are supposed to be free to work on whatever project interests you as a developer.

Now that makes for some incredibly unique creative teams where people genuinely work on something they want to work on. The reason Episode 3 and Half-Life 3 never happened is because there was not enough interest within the company creatively to actually create it. Yes there have been reports of concepts that never made it far enough, but that is kind of the point. People probably considered it several times throughout the years, but it never materialized into anything substantial.

So to make it happen one would have to change the work culture within valve to force through a project that people were not interested in making. Which would end up with a game that was not created in the same spirit as the genius of the originals.

Why would anyone want that?

I am not saying that every developer should work the way Valve does, nor that it is the perfect developer. Far from it, but it is unique and that uniqueness is a big part of how the games they have created were created. Asking them to put that aside to create a sequel. Simply because they should appease fans. Well it is paradoxical.

[Fist4achin]

If they spent the time and money on Alyx, they could have spent it also on 3. They would also have control over everything to come up with a script, gameplay, and overall development to get the game where they ultimately want it. They're just a bunch of a$$holes about it. The money sign was used for a reason.

[steven_seagull]

This one guy gets it. Valve should hire this guy, because this guy doesnt care about money, the boss-man we need. Simple and straight to the point. Script, engine, gameplay, hardware, hats, done, go, lets go. Time is money, money is Valve, Valve loves money. Money money money. Only company who just LOOOOOVES money, amiright? F*** MONEY! FREE AAA GAMES FOR EVERYONE LETS GO WUHUW YEAH WUW

[L7CHAPEL]

I don't buy the argument(s) against not finishing the third episode.
they didn't have to reinvent the wheel.
they didn't have to do anything different, simply not leave us with a cliffhanger and not follow through on the promise, AND THEY DID PROMISE, 3 episodes...
It's them saying f**k you and feeling their culture is much much more important than simply following through on a third episode, that's amongst the greatest absolute bullshit I've EVER heard.
15 different excuses, in a bunch of different ways: "oh it's our culture, oh it's this, oh, it's the engine"
bullshit.
"we wanted to do something compelling " cool, for sticking with your "vision"
not so cool for screwing over your customers, and that is what it equates to.
people aren't so pissed about nothing, I think those that are not aware of what exactly took place need to go back and take a look at where the game was, what they said, all of their advertisements that were around it,
it's a little tough, you'll have to do some digging.
they're press releases where they said what they were going to do and how they were going to do it, and how they completely reneged on every single little bit of it, and, went radio silent...
They deserve all the negative shit people feel/say about them.
And now we're going to go back to half life but only do it in VR.
Gabe supposed to be a genius, any reasonably intelligent human being that doesn't see this as a big f**k you to all of the fans and all of the people that have been wanting half Life 3, is just kidding themselves, or have a selective memory, or weren't around At that time...

[steven_seagull]

I see you’re back at it again, playing your favourite entitled-victim card......... *sound of a tiny violin in the distance*

So; Valve got themselves to where they are today, because basically; Valve smart, but also;

1. Valve make funny game
2. People want to play funny game
3. People buy funny game
4. Valve make new funny game
5. People want to play new funny game
6. Valve ma......

You know what? Shut the f*** up, you entitled, funky-smelling nutsack. Obviously youre not a fan of Valve, so please stop speaking on the behalf of us. Valve is in a unique position, which very, very few companies are, because Valve is run by smart people, that has made a model, which makes it possible for everyone within Valve HQ, to have a secure income, while being able to do what they as a company, want to do. If you whole-heartedly want someone to thrive and do everything in order to make that person thrive, you will get that back, sometimes ten-fold, thats the concept of paying it forward, thats the philosophy of Valve.

But you dont see it .... you dont want to see it, because you are hurt and angry and cant see anything besides your own clouded emotions....

You are very hangry and emotionel right now ...... very hangry and emotionel indeed ..... you want whats yours ......the half-life yes.... mmm ... Valve owes you ( they dont ) ..... Valve needs to tailor their ( Valve ) vision to the true fans ( they are ) ..... you want live a full life, not just a half-life, so you are now letting go ..... yes you are, you are..... youre letting it ......... hap...pen, Mr. Foxtrot, it ...... is ......... happe ........ ning.

Wake up, Mr -Foxtrot, wake up .....

Welcome to your new rea...li ... ty, Mr ..... Foxtrot.

Welcome ...... to ......... virtual ............. RE A LI TY

[MWH]

Your comment was like watching a Tommy Wiseau movie.

[L7CHAPEL]

"Not a fan of valve"
Well, does "being a fan" mean seeing them as exempt from the repercussions of being full of shit liars ?
Because if that's the case,
they've got a ton of ex- fans.
when you sell something, you're not above being held accountable for shitty business practices.

[lelo2play]

Valve can't count to three.

No Half Life 3.
No Portal 3.
No Left 4 Dead 3.
No Team Fortress 3.
No Dota 3.

[Loktai]

Gabe saw the godfather movies and realised it's not worth the risk .

[steven_seagull]

Lolololol

[MWH]

Lol you win internets 👏🏻

[AngelicIceDiamond]

After reading the interview I still feel like hes making excuses. They didn't like it, It took too long because of the engine they needed a break etc etc. Nothings really coherent just a bunch of reasons instead of a single clear cut legitimate reason. To sum it up they didn't want to do it anymore.

[Fist4achin]

I get the same feeling as you.

[carcarias]

Yeah, I agree.

The two main reasons kinda conflict. They said they wanted to make shorter episodes based on the tech they got to know so well during development of HL2, so that there'd be a faster turn-around, but then they say they wanted to push the boundaries in Episode 3 and needed more time. This in turn conflicts with the following;

They wanted episodic so that they didn't have to re-invent the wheel but then they say they couldn't make it because it wouldn't have been innovative enough.

It's like their perfectionism and the weight of their own expectations killed it off more than anything.

[L7CHAPEL]

And didn't care how their fans or customers felt.

And the real biggie,
is how long they went (and still to this day) haven't definitively made a clear-cut statement about it.
they never stood up and took accountability, Over the decision, or outright said "okay we're not going to finish it, this is how it is"
not once.
And that's ALL on Gabe,
Might as well change his name to Randy pitchford.

[Father__Merrin]

i remeber many years ago finishing half life 2 on the orange box ps3 it was a really good game

[MWH]

What else do you remember Father Merrin? How about a little memory refresher..

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f...

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

I don’t understand why Valve didn’t just make an iterative game. Not every sequel has to be revolutionary. If Half-Life 3 built off Half-Life 2 and was well made, it would have bern well received and successful.

[carcarias]

I agree.

People were happy with the way things were going. Many said Episode 2 was better than 1. They could have taken 2-3 years to make episode 3 and the public would have been happy, as long as the standards were kept high and the story was great.

In fact, I thought that was the whole point of going episodic, so that people didn't expect them to re-invent the wheel every time and that would take the pressure off.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Valve reminds me a perfectionist that discards and throws out quality work due to minor perceived flaws.

[carcarias]

@Sciurus_vulgaris

Yeah, that's an accurate way of putting it!

[steven_seagull]

They should have just listened to you then.
In fact every company out there should just listen to the fans and critics and let them decide whats best! John Doe knows best, because the common man knows whats up. Its not like Valve needs to have a voice of their own, let the fans decice. We paid for their games, they owe us. Honestly, I think ..... no. Let me rephrase that. I know that it would have been a great success. I just know. I can feel it in my gut.

[carcarias]

Heh, Valve did have a voice of their own and that voice said Ep3 would arrive a couple of years after Ep2 :) Fans weren't trying to decide anything for Valve, just listening to what they said would happen and then looking forward to it ;)

TL;DR All I'm saying is that if they really changed their minds and wanted the entire saga to finish on new hardware, with new tech, then they could have re-adjusted the overall story-arc and released Ep3 with a suitable segway, then taken all the time in the world to make HL3.

Look, I usually give the creative direction of a dev the priority over the desires of the customer but this was a highly unusual situation and that's why it irks people so much.

The cliffhanger in Ep2 was so obviously done because they fully expected to release Ep3. It's highly doubtful a dev intentionally makes a cliffhanger like that and thinks, 'This will keep them on the edge of their seat for the next 15 years while we finish the next bit of the story that we said we'd release in 2'. So it's pretty obvious, in fact the guy in the article pretty much states it, that they couldn't stick by their own plans, hence the irritation.

Worse, there was no need to cancel Ep3. People were loving the episodes, critically and commercially, no one needs to take my word for it and no one needed to 'use their gut' to know we'd love Ep1&2. The whole reason we had years of 'HL3 confirmed' was because of how eager fans had been for Ep3 and how much they'd enjoyed the previous entries...so yeah, Ep3 would have gone down fine.

[Cmoney007]

If Valve learns to count to three, then magic might happen again.

[ApocalypseShadow]

I think it's fine they waited for a platform that could really take Half Life to the next level.

And the fact that they have money from Steam, they may not be as concerned about what they spent to make it or sales at this time. Just prove why VR is special.

And, they could make VR games in the future. That could be Team Fortress, Left for Dead or Portal in VR as well. I don't think Valve has given up on making games. They just moved on from making the same TV/controller type gaming that's not as immersive as VR. That's been the same for almost 50 years.

They are trying to set the standard for a new platform. And I support that. Even if I can't play it at this time as I don't have an Index or powerful PC.

[FlyingFoxy]

I can afford an Index, well, i could if i wanted but i really don't want to buy into a headset that still has issues. Rather get the Rift S which is a lot cheaper. The Index apparently has some issues with glare.

Btw as for L4D in VR i really don't think it's suited to the rather fast paced nature of the game, in multiplayer you have to turn around rather quickly at times, i don't know how dumbed down it is on console so maybe it isn't an issue there, but i think (i heard) there's less common zombies on screen at one time on the 360 version, whether that's to deal with slower reaction times of a controller or not I'm unsure.. That said I'd really like a new L4D game as there's obviously a hell of a lot more that could be done with it. I'm looking forward to info on Back 4 Blood however.

[carcarias]

I think the weight of their own ambitions just made Episode 3 seem impossible unless it was a full blown sequel and that in turn just seemed like too mammoth a task after HL2.

[AuraAbjure]

I wish they would have just told us half -life games weren't going so well two years, or five years, or fucking eight years after episode 2 dropped. Would have saved my heart some anguish having been attached to characters like Alyx, Eli and Gordon.

[AK91]

I wonder if Valve will just consider the fan made Project Borealis canon and continue HL3 from that.

[QuePasa87]

It could be amazing but I think it would just fail to live up to its own hype. The pressure would be immense to be that groundbreaking and revolutionary again.

[carcarias]

You're right. It would require Valve to be brave enough to release a game knowing there would be huge expectation and a group of people who would never be satisfied.

It's a shame because no-one was expecting them to be groundbreaking for Episode 3, they just wanted to get past that cliffhanger. As long as the level design was great and the story satisfying, it would have been gold.

[mastershredder]

Sure it had nothing to do with them not having their shi7 together with other IPs + valve store.

[Ascalon94]

Just release a game and finish the damn story!