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Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Plot Leaked By Former Valve Writer

The former writer decided to share the story in his own way.

August 24, 2017 11:23 PM

Mark Laidlaw, a former writer for Valve, has taken it upon himself to reveal the plot of Half-Life 2: Episode 3...in a way. Twitter user Wario64, who also caught wind of the Yakuza 2 HD Remake leak, shared this tweet:

Half-Life 2 Episode 3 plot revealed by former Valve writer Marc Laidlaw https://t.co/U5dpPBPgRH https://t.co/eBPuUzzG5Z
— Wario64 (@Wario64) August 25, 2017

The post from Lasidlaw begins as such:

"I hope this letter finds you well. I can hear your complaint already, “Gordon Freeman, we have not heard from you in ages!” Well, if you care to hear excuses, I have plenty, the greatest of them being I’ve been in other dimensions and whatnot, unable to reach you by the usual means. This was the case until eighteen months ago, when I experienced a critical change in my circumstances, and was redeposited on these shores. In the time since, I have been able to think occasionally about how best to describe the intervening years, my years of silence. I do first apologize for the wait, and that done, hasten to finally explain (albeit briefly, quickly, and in very little detail) events following those described in my previous game (referred to herewith as Episode 2)."

Laidlaw then goes on to explain the story's continuation post the cliffhanger ending of Episode 2. The full post is around 2000 words. On his own twitter, Laidlaw says that the post is a "gender-swapped snapshot of a dream I had many years ago". His website is down at the time of this writing, but the story has been captured on Pastebin.

Charles Singletary Jr

News Editor

Charles Singletary Jr keeps the updates flowing as the News Editor, breaking stories while investigating the biggest topics in gaming and technology. He's pretty active on Twitter, so feel free to reach out to him @The_CSJR. Got a hot tip? Email him at Charles.Singletary@Shacknews.com.

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 reply
August 24, 2017 11:23 PM

Charles Singletary posted a new article, Half Life Episode 3 Plot Leaked By Former Valve Writer
- Conan
  
   reply
  August 25, 2017 12:21 AM
  
  Not sure I'd quite call that a 'leak'.
  - soapland
    
     reply
    August 25, 2017 4:59 AM
    
    How else would you get click baited???
    - the man with the briefcase
      
       reply
      August 25, 2017 11:09 AM
      
      Sigh...
  - Schnapple
    
     reply
    August 25, 2017 8:02 AM
    
    He took something presumably internal to the company he worked for and released it to the public.
    
    Seems like a leak to me, except we know who he is.
- pulkmees
  
   reply
  August 25, 2017 2:06 AM
  
  Oh man, I would have been disappointed again with the ending. I didn't realize how much of a deus ex machina G-man and vortigaunts were/are since I played the previous games as a teenager. Alyx's story makes sense though I guess.
- gzubluck
  
   reply
  August 25, 2017 2:30 AM
  
  Okay, I've never been a fan of the Half Life series, but that didn't sound half-bad. And given how it's written, I think it's vastly better when Gordon knows how to speak.
- MartyHowe
  
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  August 25, 2017 7:58 AM
  
  I dont get it. Is Episode 3 coming out? or is this story, from the cancelled game.
  - johnhead
    
     reply
    August 25, 2017 8:01 AM
    
    Laidlaw retired. he was the writer. this is what sounds like the outline for the proposed game that was never made. it's his parting gift to the fans.
- lowayne
  
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  August 25, 2017 9:02 AM
  
  I can barely remember the story anymore, it has been that long.
- bigimp
  
   reply
  August 25, 2017 12:22 PM
  
  I *guess* that's better than nothing? :/
  
  Ah well, too bad they lost interest in finishing that story properly.
- noleh8r
  
   reply
  August 25, 2017 12:56 PM
  
  For some reason, this confirmation of what I already suspected has upset me a LOT more than I thought it would