The company run by Gabe Newell has published a video lasting more than two hours where they tell us, for the first time, what they really planned to do with Half-Life 2 Episode 3, and why in the end this project ended up being canceled. This video was made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2, which arrived in 2004.
Those who were in charge of the project say that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 was in an early development phase, and that this It was going to be set in the Arctic. In the video we can see precisely some conceptual designs that were used in that phase as a script from which to move forward in the following phases.
This project was being developed almost in parallel with another that was known as Half-Life Episode 4, and which was in the hands of Arkane Studios. It was going to be set in Ravenholmone of the most iconic locations in Half-Life 2, but in the end it also faced major problems that led to its cancellation.
To introduce a new element to the gameplay This title was going to feature an ice gun. This new weapon allowed us to create objects with ice, so that with it it was possible to build, for example, an ice wall that would serve as cover. It could also be used to create ice bridges that would allow us to overcome different obstacles, and to freeze enemies.
And speaking of enemies, for this new episode they created one that was really impressive, ua kind of soft and transparent dough that could take on different forms and move freely through almost any space, and that eliminated other enemies by absorbing them. In order to put an end to these masses, the ice gun was essential.
All these ideas and concepts seem very original and innovativeand they would have been spectacular in their time. Unfortunately, Valve did not think the same, none of this seemed enough and they believed that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 was not going to meet quality standards of the company, and that is why it ended up being cancelled.
Half-Life 2 Episode 3 has been in development for a while, and it’s confirmed that the developers They could have finished it without any problem, But the situation was complicated by expectations so high that they were practically impossible to meet, and also by the need to divert resources to other important projects at the time, such as Left 4 Dead.
The documentary does not expressly confirm that Valve is going to develop a new installment of the Half-Life saga, but I think the company is well aware that this franchise and the community deserve to have an end. We hope that one day they dare to take the step and release a Half-Life 3, or at least an Episode 3 that serves to close Gordon Freeman’s story arc.
Source: www.muycomputer.com
