Former Valve writer Marc Laidlaw has published a story on his blog which describes a developed story featuring hero Gertrude Freemont Ph.d. Titled “Epistle 3”, the story has quickly caught the attention of the internet thanks to the writer’s experience.
Prior to leaving Valve in 2016, Marc Laidlaw worked on the level design and story for all major Half-Life releases. He was a significant figure for the series, and just one year after departing the company he’s published a story that reads remarkably similarly to Half-Life‘s narrative. In-fact, its references and characters clearly place the story after the events of Half-Life 2: Episode 2.
Despite Half-Life 2: Episode 2 finishing on an emotional cliffhanger back in 2007, Valve has been extremely conscientious about avoiding discussion about the series. At this point some industry experts believe Valve has shelved the franchise for the foreseeable future. Speculation has turned up a few possible explanations, the most famous of which is that Valve may be struggling to develop a sequel that lives up to the standards of the franchise.
Also Read: Why You Shouldn’t Give Up on Half-Life 3
As such, this story published by Marc Laidlaw may offer the only glimpse into a seemingly canceled Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Valve has clearly experimented with making a new game during the past decade, with nothing to show for it publicly.
The full story can be read here. Note that the website is being hit by major traffic right now and may not be able to service your request.
