Update: The release date of The Orange Box has been corrected from 2008 to 2007. Thanks!
Internet rumors are usually a dime a dozen, but when they come from huge gaming magazine Game Informer, people tend to take notice. Especially if they concern Valve’s critically acclaimed Half-Life series.
In a report made by Computer and Video Games, Game Informer announced in their rumor section that no new installment for the Half-Life franchise is planned in 2010. Also, the magazine adds that it is uncertain whether the next Half-Life game will be a continuation of Half-Life 2, or a brand new sequel.
Since the last chapter in the Half-Life saga was added in the 2007, details about Episode 3 have been far and few between. A few pieces of concept art illustrated by Valve artists Ted Backman, Jeremy Bennett and Tristan Redford emerged on the Internet in 2008, initially leading to speculation that Episode 3 was imminent--but no other details have surfaced since then.
Like past Half-Life games, Episode 2 ends with a cliff hanger that leaves the future of protagonist Gordan Freeman and his fight to liberate the human race from its alien oppressors in doubt.
The Orange Box, which packaged Episode 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 all in one package, sold 1.5 million copies on video game consoles alone. According to Valve’s Doug Lombari, the PC version sold even better.
Though renowned for refusing to rush inferior products out of the door for the sake of sales, Valve has hardly been sitting around idle since the smash success of The Orange Box.
Their cooperative zombie shooter Left 4 Dead launched in November 2008 and its sequel, Left 4 Dead 2 was released exactly one year later. Additionally, it is rumored that Valve is also working on a sequel to Portal and just maybe some kind of project for Microsoft’s motion-based Project Natal.
As always, all these rumors should be considered as such until they’re confirmed by Valve, so don’t despair quite yet about the lack of a new Half-Life game to play this year.
However, given the fact that Episode 1 was released in 2006, Episode 2 in 2007, it does still seem possible that gamers will see Episode 3 in 2010.
Then again, according to CVG, Valve’s Chet Falisek also said, “Until we have something we have to announce we tend not to talk about what we’re working on.”
Our Take
Aside from being one of the worst pieces of news I’ve heard this week, it once again depresses me that the dream of episodic content has died such a terrible, tragic death. Sure, some video game franchises have managed to survive using it like Sam and Max, but the ideal was to have a new Half-Life experience every six months. I’m sorry, Valve, but 18 months or two years just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. I love Left 4 Dead 2 and all, but come on. Priorities.
