Valve recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2 by updating the game with new features. As part of the celebration, they released a documentary where the development team reflects on their work on the game and its episodic expansions, including the unreleased Episode 3.
The documentary showcases in-progress footage of Episode 3, revealing an ice gun and a new liquid enemy type. The ice gun allowed players to create cover by spraying ice, freeze enemies, or slide along an ice path. The new enemy type, known as “the blobs,” could change shape, absorb other enemies, and move through environments.
The discussion of Episode 3 features concept art and test footage, showcasing the creative ideas that were being explored. Despite the exciting possibilities, Episode 3 was eventually abandoned as the development team shifted focus to other projects.
Writer Marc Laidlaw later published a short story based on Episode 3, but expressed regret over the decision. Valve employees shared various reasons for not continuing with Episode 3, including fatigue, doubts about episodic games, and the pursuit of larger projects.
Gabe Newell acknowledged the missed opportunity with Episode 3 and reflected on the challenges of pushing the story forward. Despite the setbacks, the legacy of Half-Life and Valve’s commitment to innovation remain intact.
The anniversary documentary offers insight into the development process and includes footage of other cancelled projects. Valve also released additional videos on their YouTube channel, showcasing demos from different eras.
