View source for Half-Life 2: Episode Three

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{{Game Infobox
|image       =Borealis Advisors.jpg
|image2      =
|name        =''Half-Life 2: Episode Three''
|developer   =[[Valve]]
|date        =Cancelled
|genre       =[[Wikipedia:First-person shooter|First-person shooter]]
|mode        =
|platform    =
|rating      =
|distribution=
|system      =
|input       =
|engine      =[[Source]]
|series      =''[[Half-Life]]''
|designer    =
|writer      =
|composer    =
|previous    =''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]''
|next        =''[[Portal]]''
}}
'''Half-Life 2: Episode Three''' is a cancelled game that was planned as the third and final installment in the ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' episodic trilogy.

== Plot ==
Although the game never reached a finished state from which a definite plot summary can be formed, ''Episode Three'' would have presumably picked up after ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s cliffhanger with the discovery of the [[Borealis]] and the death of [[Eli Vance]]. Concept art suggests [[Gordon Freeman]] and [[Alyx Vance]] would have continued on their journey to the Arctic in search of the Borealis and [[Judith Mossman]], only for their helicopter to crash. Traveling on foot, the two would have to face the Arctic environment while dealing with the [[Combine]].

== Development, cancellation, and future ==
:''See also: [[Development of the next Half-Life game]]''
In April 2005, Valve announced an upcoming expansion for ''Half-Life 2'', titled ''Half-Life 2: Aftermath'', which would pick up after the events of the game. In February of the following year, ''Aftermath'' was renamed ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]''. In May, Valve explained ''Episode One'' would be the first in a planned trilogy, with ''Episode Three'' to release in December 2007.<ref>"[https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/100418/HalfLife_2_Episode_One_Dated_Trilogy_Confirmed.php Half-Life 2: Episode One Dated, Trilogy Confirmed.]" Gamasutra.</ref>

Very little news on the status of ''Episode Three'' could be found following the release of ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]'' in October 2007 with [[The Orange Box]]. With the exception of leaked concept art in 2008, Valve essentially went radio silent on the status of the finale for the trilogy. This led to further speculation that Valve was instead planning to create a full-fledged sequel titled ''[[Development of the next Half-Life game|Half-Life 3]]''. Right up until the release of ''[[Half-Life: Alyx]]'' in 2020, the only news fans ever learned of any development on the ''Half-Life'' series came from leaks and datamining.

Behind the scenes at Valve, it had become clear over the course of developing the ''Half-Life 2'' episodes that the team had an issue of scope creep: the episodes were planned to shorten the amount of time between ''Half-Life'' games (given the six-year time span between the first and second game), but ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s development took much longer than anticipated and the results appeared to be much closer to sequels to ''Half-Life 2'' than simple episodes. Development on ''Episode Three'' was set aside so Valve's developers could focus on finishing the upcoming ''Left 4 Dead''. By the time the team returned to ''Episode Three'', they felt the amount of time needed to finish – estimated to have been another two years – was too long, and that their focus was better spent on making a new, larger installment in the franchise once finished with the Source 2 engine, which could provide a new toolset for the developers.<ref>https://www.vg247.com/2020/03/24/why-half-life-2-episode-3-never-happened/</ref> The team would later come to regret this, with David Speyrer admitting they still could have finished the game. Gabe Newell has claimed responsibility for letting development on ''Episode Three'' end: "The failure, my personal failure, was being stumped. I couldn't figure out why doing Episode Three was pushing anything forward."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCjNT9qGjh4 Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Documentary]</ref>

''Episode Three'' was quietly cancelled during this time, with the only official announcement coming from [[Gabe Newell]] in a 2011 interview, where he confirmed that Valve had moved on from the episodic model of developing software.<ref>"[https://www.mcvuk.com/newell-weve-moved-beyond-the-episodic-model/ Newell: We've moved beyond the episodic model.]" MCV Develop.</ref>

Following this, a number of projects planned as a potential ''Half-Life 3'' were developed, some of which were still being worked on as late as 2014.<ref>Valve News Network. "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3m7Oc08Ur0 The Half-Life 3 Beta Prototype Map Leak]."</ref> Although leaks over the years showed that Valve internally referred to many of these as ''Half-Life 3'', none of the design experiments became a full-length ''Half-Life'' game due to a lack of excitement on the developers' end and the extended development cycle for Source 2. This, coupled with the pressure to create the increasingly anticipated follow-up to ''Episode Two'' ultimately prevented another ''Half-Life'' from seeing the light of day for nearly a decade.<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9K0eJEmMEw The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx - Behind Closed Doors at Valve.]" YouTube.</ref>

[[File:Half Life 2 Episode Three concept 2.jpg|Combine Advisors around the ''Borealis'' in the first ''Episode Three'' concept art image, released in 2007.|right|thumb|200px]][[File:Advisor Intothepixel.jpg|Gordon Freeman face to face with an Advisor in the second ''Episode Three'' concept art image, created and released in 2008.|right|thumb|200px]] 

[[File:Borealis Advisors.jpg|Combine Advisors around the ''Borealis'' in the third and last ''Episode Three'' concept art image, released in 2008.|right|thumb|200px]]

On November 15, 2024, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ''[[Half-Life 2]]'', Valve released concept art and gameplay of the cancelled third episode.

== Official and semi-official derivatives ==

=== ''[[Portal]]'' ===
''Portal''<nowiki/>'s main setting, [[Aperture Science]], is first introduced in ''Episode Two'' when [[Isaac Kleiner]] refers to a project they were working on with some promise that led to the disappearance of the Borealis from its dry dock. Information in ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s files suggest this experiment was related to [[Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device]] and Aperture's portal technology. References to [[Black Mesa]] and by extension the [[Black Mesa Incident]] exist throughout ''Portal'', and [[GLaDOS]] alludes to knowledge of the Combine.

At the time of ''Portal''<nowiki/>'s release, Gabe Newell claimed in an interview with G4 that [[Chell]] has importance in the overall ''Half-Life'' and ''Portal'' universe, and would eventually have a fairly significant relationship with other characters we are already familiar. However, due to ''Episode Three''<nowiki/>'s cancellation and the decision to retcon ''Portal''<nowiki/>'s ending with Chell being dragged back into Aperture Science to set up ''Portal 2'', nothing came of these plans.

=== ''[[Portal 2]]'' ===
Within the 1970s era of [[Test Shaft 09]] in ''Portal 2'' are several vitrified test chambers. One such test chamber, which has had its door blasted off by some unknown force, is revealed to be the dry dock for the Borealis. A nearby intercom with a recording by [[Cave Johnson]] reveals Aperture Science was experimenting with teleportation, suggesting the Borealis contains teleportation technology that the Combine and Resistance seek. Until the release of ''Half-Life: Alyx'', this was the only in-canon continuation of the story set up by ''Episode Two'' for over a decade (''Portal 2'' is presumed to take place years, if not centuries, after the events of the entire ''Half-Life'' series).

=== BreenGrub Twitter ===
On May 31, 2012 a Twitter account called "[https://twitter.com/breengrub?lang=en BreenGrub]" began posting. Its tweets suggested it belonged to [[Wallace Breen]] himself, who had a younger version of his mind uploaded into a host body, that of an [[Advisor]]. Breen attempted to pass on information to the resistance through these tweets.

On April 13, 2013, series writer Marc Laidlaw confirmed he was running the BreenGrub Twitter, but stated it was not canon to the ''Half-Life'' universe but rather "fanfiction." He elaborated: "I personally cannot give the world a Half-Life game. All I can personally do, for now, is stuff like this."<ref>"[https://www.pcgamesn.com/half-life-writer-marc-laidlaw-goes-back-breen-fanfiction-twitter-account Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw goes back to Breen with fanfiction Twitter account.]" PCGamesN.</ref>

The account ceased posting in July of 2014 after a series of tweets going in-depth about the history of the Advisors (who were apparently larva forms of a species called "Shu'ulathoi") and suggesting the Vortigaunts may be allied with another malevolent force. Breen was swiftly silenced by the Vortigaunts and was then influenced to spout Combine propaganda.<ref>"[http://lambdageneration.com/discussion/half-life/5-intriguing-things-breengrub-teaches-us-about-the-half-life-saga/ 5 Intriguing Things BreenGrub Teaches Us About The Half-Life Saga.]" Lambda Generation.</ref> Breen subsequently seemingly abandoned the account, apparently realizing his feed was no longer secure.

Laidlaw departed Valve less than two years later.

=== ''Epistle 3'' ===
{{main|Epistle Three}}
On August 25, 2017, Marc Laidlaw abruptly published a document entitled ''[https://www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/ Epistle 3]'', which he described as a "genderswapped snapshot of a dream I had many years ago."<ref name=":0">[https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/25/16205032/marc-laidlaw-half-life-2-episode-3-plot-outline-fanfic "Marc Laidlaw's coded Half-Life 'fanfic' is probably the closest we'll get to Half-Life 3."] The Verge.</ref> Written by "Dr. Gertrude Fremont" to the "Playa," the document was interpreted by mainstream media as the plot to ''Episode Three'' with purposely changed names and even genders of several aspects of the ''Half-Life'' universe (e.g., [[Alyx Vance]] as "Alex Vaunt," [[Judith Mossman]] becomes "Dr. Maas," [[Vortigaunt|Vortigaunts]] as "Ghastlyhaunts," and the [[Borealis]] going by its beta name "[[Borealis (cut location)|Hyperborea]]").<ref>"[https://www.avclub.com/this-short-story-is-probably-the-closest-well-ever-get-1798421996 This short story is probably the closest we'll get to learning the plot of Half-Life 3.]" ''The AV Club''.</ref>

Because Laidlaw wrote it after he had left Valve, ''Epistle 3'' is effectively fanfiction and not a canon ending to the episodic trilogy. However, it provides a possible synopsis of what such a game as written by Laidlaw would have looked like. Laidlaw noted on his Twitter that none of the ideas described were fixed, and they would have been changed based on the direction the programmers wished to take gameplay.<ref name=":0" /> Valve's Robin Walker reiterated Laidlaw's statement following the release of ''Half-Life: Alyx'', noting there was never an official plot synopsis for ''Episode Three'' and that ''Epistle 3'' more closely represents ideas Laidlaw had floating around in his head.<ref>https://kotaku.com/why-valve-gave-up-on-multiple-half-life-3s-1842450268</ref>

=== ''[[Half-Life: Alyx]]'' ===
Only one asset leftover from ''Episode Three''<nowiki/>'s development made it into ''Half-Life: Alyx'': [[Alyx's Gun]], the model of which was recycled for the game.<ref>[[The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx|''The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx'']].</ref>

Although a majority of the game is set five years before the events of ''Half-Life 2'', the story is directly affected by ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s ending: [[Quarantine Zone Vortigaunt|a brain-damaged Vortigaunt]] shows awareness that Eli Vance is fated to die, and during the game's final section the G-Man sends Alyx through time to witness her father's death at [[White Forest]] before giving her the chance to change his fate by killing the Advisor. As a result, ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s ending is effectively retconned, starting a new timeline where Eli Vance is alive but Alyx has been taken by the G-Man. The game's post-credits sequence picks up in this new timeline with Gordon waking up at White Forest seconds after ''Episode Two''<nowiki/>'s ending. Eli, after swearing revenge on the G-Man, gets the crowbar from Dog and hands it to Gordon, declaring that they have a lot of work to do.
==Gallery==
===Leaked Artwork===
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
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</gallery>

===Released Artwork===
<gallery>
Episode Three Concept 2024.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 2.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 3.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 4.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 5.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 6.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 7.png
Episode Three Concept 2024 8.png
</gallery>

===Gameplay===
<gallery>
Episode Three Gameplay.png
Episode Three Gameplay 2.png|Ice gun using an placeholder SMG1 model
Episode Three Gameplay 3.png
File:HL2ep3 gameplay 4.jpg|An unkown weapon shown in this build
</gallery>

==Fan Recreations==
Multiple fan projects have attempted to fill the role ''Episode Three'' would have had and create their own conclusion to the ''Half-Life 2'' saga. 

In 2009, a mod containing map packs masquerading as leaked content for ''Episode Three'' was released. The simple chapters depict Freeman and Alyx heading off for the Borealis, crashing in the arctic, discovering the ship, infiltrating it, before then escaping with Barney Calhoun as it is destroyed. 

In 2016, a mod titled ''Half-Life 2 Episode 3: The Closure'' was released, one of the first completed attempts, although it received negative feedback due to the gameplay and design having very little to do with ''Half-Life'' and its extensive use of cutscenes.<br />However, a couple supplementary mods soon followed that attempted to fix ''The Closure'' mod to be more vanilla with ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' series and ''[[Source]]'' engine. The first was the ''Remod'' edition in 2016, which was much better received, although had its own custom content. The second was the ''Vanilla Edition'' in 2017 that reduced at least some of the custom content in the ''Remod'' base.<ref>[https://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-2-episode-3-the-closure-remod-improved Half-Life 2 Episode 3 - The Closure - Vanilla Edition sub-mod.]
 ModDB.</ref>

Following the release of ''Epistle 3'', further fan projects have emerged in an attempt to adapt the synopsis into a full game. The most notable of these are ''[[Project Borealis]]'', which will recreate the ''Half-Life'' environments in the Unreal Engine rather than Source, with a demo taking place in Ravenholm [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215490/Project_Borealis_Prologue/ available on Steam]. Another notable project with the same goal as ''Project Borealis'' was ''Boreal-Alyph'', which used the Source engine and attempted to update the environments to create a modern-day game, however, the team creating the project, KAFF Software, announced on June 6th, 2021, that it would be permanently shelved.<ref>[https://twitter.com/KAFFSoftware/status/1401724077773971457 Keep Away From Fire Software's June 7, 2021 post.] Twitter/X.</ref> 

Although not a sequel, the acclaimed 2018 mod ''[[Half-Life: Echoes]]'' depicts a scene from ''Epistle 3'' in which Freeman, Alyx and a dead Judith Mossman are on the Borealis, and are met by the G-Man.

The ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]'' mod, ''Infinite Finality'', by Team Hyperborea is an attempt at a faithful adaptation of ''Episode Three''. Their blogging on the project began in 2023. The project's first demo is planned to be released in 2024.<ref>[https://www.moddb.com/mods/infinite-finality Infinite Finality project.]
 ModDB.</ref>

Another ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]'' mod, ''Half-Life: Interlude'', by Pega_Xing is an alternative ''Episode Three'' adaptation that is smaller in scope. It continues the storyline where ''Episode Two'' left off. Their blogging on the project began in 2016, however it picked up steam (no pun) in 2024.<ref>[https://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-interlude Half-Life: Interlude project.]
 ModDB.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External Links== 
*[https://twitter.com/breengrub?lang=en BreenGrub Twitter]
*[https://www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/ "Epistle 3" on Marc Laidlaw's website]
*[https://github.com/Jackathan/MarcLaidlaw-Epistle3/blob/master/Epistle3_Corrected.md A fan correction of "Epistle 3" by Jackathan]
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