In 2007, the gaming world held its breath as it counted down to the release of the final episodic instalment to the main Half-Life game series. Gordon Freeman and game-developer, Valve's, story came to prominence with the release of the original Half-Life in 1998, the release of the sequel, Half-Life 2, in 2004 and then 2 more episodes continuing Gordon's story set to end with the final Half-Life 3, or Half-Life 2 episode 3, in December 2007.

But that game has never been released! The story ends on a cliffhanger, press releases were made to hype the Christmas release of that final instalment, but Valve devolved into silence and not a whisper has been heard about the fabled Half-Life 3... Will it ever get released, and why hasn't it been? Where will the story go? Matt and AJ speculate... for far longer than is strictly necessary!

If you like what you're hearing, please support us by buying a coffee and/or subscribing to us on YouTube or your podcast app.

You can also find us on social media at Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Y0Y is created by Matt Hartless and AJ Hill. The Y0Y theme tune is written and recorded by Matt Hartless. The Y0Y logo was designed by Shelli Le Fay. The episode art was created by AJ Hill. All copyright belongs to the creators.

Sources and further reading:

The Half-Life Iceberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LryI-0Fe4T8

The Half-Life Iceberg part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdmFuSRGogU

History of Valve: https://www.gamesradar.com/history-of-valve/

Interview with Gabe Newell: https://web.archive.org/web/20111126125407/http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/story_type/site_trail_story/interview-gabe-newell/

Spanish article about Half-Life containing references to Akira: https://as.com/meristation/2018/08/29/noticias/1535543681_545901.html

Article about the release of Half-Life: https://web.archive.org/web/20100308234131/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part34.html

Review of the original Half-Life: https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_32/page/n107/mode/2up

Valve's design process: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131815/the_cabal_valves_design_process_.php

Article about the release of Half-Life 2: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2/1100-6112889/

On the 10 year anniversary of Half-Life 2: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-16-half-life-2-10-years-on

Article about the hacker who leaked Half-Life 2: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-21-the-boy-who-stole-half-life-2-article

Another interview with Gabe Newell: https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/the-valve-manifesto/

Why HL2E3 was never made: https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-explains-why-half-life-2-episode-3-was-never-made

Mark Laidlaw's "Epistle 3": https://www.businessinsider.com/half-life-2-episode-3-story-marc-laidlaw-valve-2017-8?r=US&IR=T

Half-Life Alyx release: https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/18/20970733/half-life-alyx-vr-release-date-valve-announcement

Cancelled Valve projects: https://www.ign.com/articles/half-life-3-left-4-dead-3-details-cancelled-valve

HLA review: https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/games-apps/game-review-vr-only-alyx-is-a-triumphant-return-to-the-half-life-universe

Production of HLA video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9K0eJEmMEw

Article about Valve giving Black Mesa its blessing: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-20-valve-gives-black-mesa-permission-to-be-a-commercial-product