Half-Life has taken the gaming world into a storm when gamers piqued interest easily in the first-person shooter (FPS) game by Valve. The game has been a series and many have since been wondering about the status of Half-Life 3 on whether it is confirmed, canceled, or still in development.
When Half-Life first arrived in 1998, it easily became a commercial success. Players would be given control over the character of the scientist Gordon Freeman who needs to survive a present alien invasion. The game is a perfect mixture of shooting, puzzles, and storytelling.
Following the success of its predecessor, Half-Life 2 was released in 2004 setting new characters and more advanced gameplay. Various games followed in relation to the game franchise such as the extra level Lost Coast in 2005, the episodic sequels of Episode One in 2006, and Episode Two in 2007, where in the same year, the Portal series was also released, a game which exists in the same universe as Half-Life.
Since then, there hasn't been a release and many people wondered if there would be a Half-Life 3 or even an Episode 3 version. Rumors spread around that such a game is in development and there were leaks online that the game is indeed happening.
Half-Life 3 had been left hanging in the balance after years and years of wait ever since the Half-Life 2 ended with a cliffhanger. According to a report by Game Informer in 2017, an insider from Valve said that "there is no such thing as Half-Life 3 nor one under development" and after various rumors, the doors have completely closed as it was deemed canceled along with Left 4 Dead 3. Canceled episodes of Half-Life turned up such as that of Half-Life: Ravenholm.
The silence was deafening especially for gamers. With Half-Life 2's cliffhanger, many are expecting that there is still more, there's something next.
That is, until, Valve breaks its silence for more than a decade of wait.
Valve released Half-Life: Alyx in 2020. After almost 13 years, a Half-Life game emerged. Half-Life: Alyx is a virtual reality (VR) FPS set in between the events of the first Half-Life and its sequel Half-Life 2. The character where players control is Alyx Vance who is on a mission to take a superweapon from Combine. VR is used by the players to play the game and fight, with the use of "gravity gloves" to move around objects.
What does Half-Life: Alyx mean for Half-Life 3?
Well, it is possible that it opened a closed door, to say the least. Many have speculated that Half-Life: Alyx could be the connection to bridge the gap if and when a Half-Life 3 would be released. The VR game possibly sets up the third Half-Life as it was revealed in the final scene of the game that Gordon is back. Because of this, it is possible that Half-Life 3 lives on, maybe not now, but in the future.
While Half-Life 3 is still canceled, it is never too late to put it up for revival. Here are a few reasons why. First, the VR game reignited the interest of gamers in Half-Life. It brought back the spark it had before and this could mean the start of something new or something old continued. Second, the release of the VR game means that Valve is back on the title, it might be just what Valve needs to go on with Half-Life 3. Lastly, Gordon is back which means that the primary character of Half-Life could have another go for another installment, and possibly in VR as well.
So, going back to the question, is Half-Life 3 confirmed, canceled, or in development? Well, it's all of the above. It wasn't directly confirmed or tagged as in development but having it canceled meant that there were plans for it, or at least for an Episode Three of it. With the introduction of Half-Life: Alyx, it could be a game-changer for Valve and who knows, maybe sometime in the future, we'll get to have Half-Life 3 for real.
Half-Life 3 remains to be one of the greatest mysteries of gaming.
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