Half-Life Writer Confessed He Went ‘Deranged’ for Publishing the Bizarre Half-Life 3 Story He Forever Regrets

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Half-Life Writer Confessed He Went ‘Deranged’ for Publishing the Bizarre Half-Life 3 Story He Forever Regrets

Half-Life Writer Confessed He Went ‘Deranged’ for Publishing the Bizarre Half-Life 3 Story He Forever Regrets

As Half-Life 2 celebrates its 20th anniversary today, Valve has dropped a bombshell in the form of a comprehensive two-hour documentary. For many fans, it’s a bittersweet reminder of both the game’s revolutionary impact and the sequel that never was.

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The “20th Anniversary Update” is also live. | Image Credit: Valve

But while Half-Life 3 remains gaming’s greatest “what if,” one former Valve writer actually tried to answer that question. In a moment of what he now calls temporary insanity, Marc Laidlaw decided to share his vision for the series’ conclusion—a decision that would come back to haunt him.

The story behind this infamous blog post is as fascinating as it is bizarre, involving an isolated island, a severe case of cabin fever, and what happens when one of gaming’s most brilliant minds decides to go rogue.

A Half-Life Writer’s Moment of Madness

Back in 2006, Valve had ambitious plans for their episodic trilogy. Gabe Newell himself suggested these episodes collectively represented what fans were waiting for—effectively making them Half-Life 3 in all but name.

But as today’s documentary reveals, Episode 3 only made it about six months into development. The team had been experimenting with fascinating concepts, including an innovative ice weapon that would have let players create frozen structures. Then priorities shifted, with all hands needed for Left 4 Dead.

Fast forward to 2017, a year after his retirement from Valve, Laidlaw did something unprecedented. He published what was essentially his vision for Episode 3‘s story on his personal blog. Looking back at that decision in a 2023 interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, his assessment was brutal:

I was deranged. I was living on an island, totally cut off from my friends and creative community of the last couple decades, I was completely out of touch and had nobody to talk me out of it. It just seemed like a fun thing to do… until I did it.

The isolation had clearly taken its toll, but the real impact of Laidlaw’s “deranged” decision wouldn’t become clear until years later, when Valve began exploring new possibilities for the franchise.

The Ripples of a Rogue Story

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A scene from the Half-Life: Episode 3 gameplay footage, courtesy of the new documentary. | Image Credit: Valve

The impact of Laidlaw’s impromptu storytelling went far beyond personal regret. As Valve continued working on various projects, including what would eventually become Half-Life: Alyx, the published outline created unexpected complications:

Eventually my mind would have calmed and I’d have come out the other side a lot less embarrassed. I think it caused trouble for my friends, and made their lives harder.

What makes this story particularly poignant is the revelation in today’s documentary that Episode 3 might have been closer than we thought. Several team members now acknowledge they could have completed it in just a year or two.

Instead, they chose to wait for new technology and opportunities, leaving fans to speculate about what might have been. Laidlaw’s unauthorized story only complicated matters further:

It also created the impression that if there had been an Episode 3, it would have been anything like my outline, whereas in fact all the real story development can only happen in the crucible of developing the game. So what people got wasn’t Episode 3 at all.

Looking back at his decision to publish the story, Laidlaw’s assessment remains unchanged:

Deranged. There’s really no other explanation.

As Half-Life 2 enters its third decade, the documentary reminds us of both what was and what could have been. The ice weapon, the blob enemies, the unfinished story—they’re all part of gaming’s most enticing and elusive “what if.” But perhaps, as the success of Half-Life: Alyx and some recent developments suggest, the story may not be over just yet.

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What do you think about Laidlaw’s candid confession? Was his post-retirement storytelling a blessing in disguise, or would you have preferred to never know his vision for the series’ conclusion? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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