Half-Life 2 Celebrates 20 Years with Free Update and Exclusive Content

Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, revealed in a documentary that Half-Life 2: Episode 3 was never developed because he was "stumped" on how it would advance the series meaningfully. Despite ideas like an "Ice Gun" and "blob" enemies, Newell and his team couldn't justify the game's development, citing creative blocks and the company's focus on other projects like the Source 2 engine and Half-Life: Alyx. This admission coincides with a 20th-anniversary update for Half-Life 2, further dimming hopes for a sequel.