Half-Life Wiki:Canon



The Half-Life series canon has never been officially defined by Valve, and probably never will. Series' writer Marc Laidlaw stated that they do not "get involved in issues of canonicity", that "canon itself is non-canon", and that there is "no official stance", "just the games" as they are. "Canon itself is non-canon" emphasizes the fact that a few to no plot points are set in stone and that they can change anything during the development of further games, the aim being to have a good game before having a good story.

Valve also does not get involved in timeline issues. A complete official timeline of the Half-Life series has never been made and probably never will, since it could probably make the writers contradict themselves and limit their creativity for possible subsequent episodes. Several retcons have been made and others will likely be made in future games, confirming the "canon itself is non-canon" quote, meaning that any game can have its facts changed in a future release.

Defining canon
Given this lack of reference and stance from Valve, the official source, the wiki had to define the canon itself to avoid confusion, and provide content as consistent as possible to what is set in the final, "real" Half-Life storyline, and what is not. These choices have been made as logically as possible and mirror the general consensus often viewed among fans.

The only requirement for a source to be canon is that it must be official, meaning it has to come directly from Valve, or, if not, be endorsed by Valve.

These endorsed sources are the Gearbox expansions, although their canonicity has been questioned for years, and the Prima Guides, although they sometimes contain goofs, inaccuracies and obsolete information. They are considered canon unless they contradict the certified canon material.

The cut material is endorsed by / directly comes from Valve, but it is logically deemed non-canon by default. However, some cut content could be deemed canon if it does not contradict the canon material. For example, the Headcrab Shell launcher or the seagulls eating the Leeches featured in Lost Coast are likely canon, as it is reflected in the canon games.

Sometimes external sources such as interviews of Valve employees often provide additional in-universe information. They are included in the wiki as canon as long as they do not contradict the previously established data.

The list
Here are listed all the official material related to the Half-Life universe, with their canonicity level. Please note that games series from Valve such as the Counter-Strike, Team Fortress, Day of Defeat and Left 4 Dead series are obviously non-canon, being not set in the Half-Life universe.

Certified canon material

 * Half-Life / Half-Life: Source
 * Half-Life 2
 * Half-Life 2: Episode One
 * ApertureScience.com
 * Portal
 * Half-Life 2: Episode Two
 * Portal ARG
 * Portal 2
 * Marc Laidlaw Vault on the HalfLife2.net Forums

The Gearbox expansions

 * Half-Life: Opposing Force
 * Half-Life: Blue Shift
 * Half-Life: Decay

The Prima Guides

 * Half-Life Prima Guide
 * Half-Life: Opposing Force Prima Guide
 * Half-Life 2 Prima Guide
 * Half-Life 2: Episode One Prima Guide
 * The Orange Box Prima Guide
 * Portal Prima Guide

Miscellaneous

 * Codename: Gordon
 * Deathmatch Classic
 * Half-Life Deathmatch: Source
 * Half-Life: Day One
 * Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
 * Half-Life 2: Survivor
 * Portal: Still Alive

Cut material

 * Anything related to the Half-Life, Half-Life 2 Betas and early versions of the other games that did not make it into the final versions
 * Prospero
 * Quiver
 * Get Your Free TVs!
 * Half-Life: Uplink
 * Half-Life 2: Lost Coast