New Documentary Reveals Why Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Was Never Released

Valve developers share insights into the halted development of Half-Life 2: Episode 3 in a 20th-anniversary documentary.

The documentary explains that Half-Life 2: Episode 3 was initially set in the Arctic and featured an innovative ice gun.
Development on Episode 3 was paused as Valve shifted focus to the successful release of Left 4 Dead.
Valve's Gabe Newell expressed that simply advancing the story wasn't enough to justify continuing Episode 3.
A new 20th-anniversary update for Half-Life 2 includes developer commentary, bug fixes, and Steam Workshop support.
Half-Life 2: Episode 3 remains an unfinished project, but the series continued with the VR title Half-Life: Alyx.