Thoughts: The Perfect Time for Half-Life 3?

Cross Your Fingers

       

        I'm certain I'm not alone when I say that I've been anticipating a new Half-Life game the moment I finished Half-Life 2: Episode 2. Some of us Half-Life fans have been scrounging around on the internet looking for any sign of the next entry in the legendary series. Well, what if I told you that we might not be to far along from another Half-Life game? Or, at least, an announcement of the game's existence (because we will take anything).

          Now, it's been almost seven years since the release of Half-Life 2 and four years since the last expansion, Episode 2. During that time since the last episode, Valve has made Team Fortress 2, Portal, Portal 2, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, and are about to release Dota 2 (the sequel to Defense of the Ancients). One would think that it would be about time for another Half-Life game. The way I see it, Valve doesn't really have anything to make but Half-Life 3 next. I guess you could say they could make Counter-Strike 2, but I haven't really heard fans whining about it not being made. Valve always seems to cater to their fans, so now that Portal 2 is out and Dota 2 is supposed to be releasing later this year, the next thing they announce could be Half-Life 3. 

        I would expect an announcement next year with a release either in 2013 or 2014, but given Valve's reputation it could coincide with the actual Rapture. Those two dates I listed are also the fifteenth and tenth anniversaries of Half-Life and Half-Life 2 respectively. I would expect it to be an actual game and not just Episode 3 like most people have been saying because it's been to long since the last episode, and Valve has said that they are moving away from episodic content.

        This is all speculation on my part. Valve also has reports that contradict a new Half-Life coming anytime soon. Some reports state that Valve is shifting its focus onto more multiplayer specific games, which isn't what Half-Life is really known for. Although, this could mean that it could have a multiplayer that rivals Halo and Call of Duty. Who really knows for sure? Only Valve, and you know they love to make their announcements special, so keep an eye out for potential cryptic messages.