Valve isn’t known for their prompt delivery of games. Quite the contrary, they often announce release dates and push the game back until it’s as close to perfect as it can become. Such has been the evidence of almost all their games, all the way from Half-Life to Left 4 Dead. So it came as some surprise to hear from the E3 folks themselves that Half-Life 3 will be at E3 in a few weeks and it’ll be a Microsoft exclusive.


Notice how I said “ Microsoft exclusive”? According to E3.net, its listed platforms are Xbox 360 and PC – more than likely on Valve’s beloved Steam service. The lack of PS3 inclusion isn’t particularly surprising, considering Gabe Newell’s (Valve’s co-founder/managing director) comments about it some months back: “The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think it’s really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted,”

Episode 3 is slated to be the culmination and conclusion of the Half-Life 2 saga. In addition, it has been said that these ‘episodes’ have essentially been what the contents of Half-Life 3 would’ve been.

Since this information is coming from the official E3 site it’s likely that it’s fairly concrete. Mid-July can’t come quick enough.