The Gamesom 2016 conference in Cologne, Germany held a huge surprise for those arriving at the Koelnmesse expo center - an orange banner proclaiming Half Life: 3. In what seems a reference to the much-awaited Valve sequel for the "Half-Life" franchise, the Gamescom 2016 announcement said Half Life 3.
On closer inspection, however, the Gamescom 2016 banner had in smaller print "REDAKTEURE DIE ES DAMALS GESPIELT HABEN". This translates from German to English as "editors who have played it then".
There's a Half-Life 3 banner at Gamescom. No, it's not for Half-Life 3. https://t.co/Cabr9tQSTK pic.twitter.com/2BEMyzCzab
— PCGamesN (@PCGamesN) August 16, 2016
What does the Gamescom 2016 banner mean then? It becomes apparent that the 3 is tied to the sentence "editors who have played it then" thus - Half Life: [the] 3 editors who played it then as Destructoid reports. Needless to say, the Gamescom banner inflamed fan desire for "Half-Life" 3 from Valve.
The excitement was easily rekindled by the Gamescom 2016 gimmick as "Half-Life" fans have long been waiting for the next installment in Gordon Freeman's chronicles. Valve released "Half-Life 2: Episode Two" in 2007.
Since then Valve co-founder Gabe Newell discussed a "Half-Life: Episode Three." Strangely Valve went quiet on "Half-Life" 3 shortly after, and have since almost always invoked the right to remain silent with "We have nothing to say at this time."
Many believe "Half-Life" 3 will not come out any time soon. Until the Gamescom 2016 tease, even more, believed that Valve will not deliver "Half-Life" 3 - ever.
However certain leaks from eyewitnesses inside Valve offices spoke of seeing "Half-Life" 3 on the internal databases (also "Left 4 Dead 3" for that matter). Comments from third-party "insiders" claimed "Half-Life 3" will be open-world and even VR.
Given the fact that many games now lean toward open world (for asset reusability and to keep development costs down while boosting gameplay time) and given Valve's drive for VR, some truth may be in these "Half-Life" 3 urban legends. Still, the fact that Valve remains mum on "Half-Life" 3 is not unnoticed.
All the same, given the pedigree of the "Half-Life" franchise and the fact that both entries were giant leaps in gameplay and technology, it is safe to say that "Half-Life" 3 is being groomed as something very, very special. With regard to the Gamescom 2016 announcement of "Half-Life" 3, Valve fans can be certain that when the announcement really does arrive it won't be a trolling orange banner in Cologne.
Perhaps a single screen on the Steam Store’s homepage with the words “Half-Life: 3, pre-loading now” would be enough to set the world on fire. What would you want to see Valve put into “Half-Life” 3?
