The Gab Newell-led company released a more than two-hour long video where they revealed for the first time what they really planned to do with Half-Life 2 Episode 3 and why the project ended up ended in cancellation. This video was made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2, which came out in 2004.

Those in charge of the project say that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 was in the early stages of development and that this It was supposed to take place in the Arctic. In the video, we can see exactly some of the conceptual designs that were used at this stage as a script from which to move forward in the following stages.

This project was developed almost simultaneously with another project, which was known as Half-Life Episode 4, which was in the hands of Arkane Studios. It was supposed to take place in Ravenholmone of Half-Life 2’s most iconic locations, but ultimately it also faced major issues that led to its cancellation.

Introducing a new element to the game This title was supposed to feature an ice gun. This new weapon allowed us to create objects with ice, so it was possible to build an ice wall for example with it to serve as cover. It could also be used to create ice bridges that would allow us to cross various obstacles and freeze enemies.

And speaking of enemies, they created one for this new episode that was really impressive, ua kind of soft and transparent dough which could assume various forms and move freely through almost any space, and which eliminated other enemies by absorbing them. In order to put an end to these masses, an ice gun was necessary.

All these ideas and concepts seem very original and innovativeand in their time they would have been magnificent. Unfortunately, Valve didn’t think the same, none of that seemed enough and they believed that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 does not meet quality standards company and therefore ended in liquidation.

Half-Life 2 Episode 3 has been in development for some time and it is confirmed that the developers They could finish it without any problems, But the situation was complicated by expectations so high that they were practically impossible to meet, as well as the need to redirect resources to other important projects at the time, such as Left 4 Dead.

The document doesn’t explicitly confirm that Valve is going to develop a new installment in the Half-Life saga, but I think the company is well aware that this franchise and community deserve an end. Here’s hoping that one day they dare to take the plunge and release Half-Life 3, or at least Episode 3, which serves to close Gordon Freeman’s story arc.