Half-Life 2: Episode One gold, Two dated, Three announced

First of three expansions to Valve's groundbreaking shooter is set for June 1 retail and online launch; sequels due by end of year and in 2007, respectively.

HL2: Episode One

Alyx struts her stuff in this new trailer.

A year and a half after Half-Life 2 first hit PCs, the highly acclaimed PC shooter is on the verge of getting its first expansion. Today, Valve Software announced that Half-Life 2: Episode One has gone gold and is on track to ship next Thursday, June 1. The add-on will cost $19.99 and will be sold both online via Valve's Steam download service and in boxed retail form, which Electronic Arts will distribute.

Like Half-Life 2, Episode One will be rated M for Mature due to sci-fi violence. However, unlike most expansions, it does not require the original game to play. That may be because the game goes outside City 17, the setting of much of Half-Life 2, to follow hero Gordon Freeman and supporting heroine Alyx, who plays a more prominent role this time around. Along with the cold announcement, Valve released a brand-new trailer showing Alyx in action.

In addition to two new multiplayer modes and the Lost Coast tech demo, Episode One will sport a preview of its sequel, Half-Life 2: Episode Two. The expansion, the existence of which was revealed in February, will add another four- to six-hour minicampaign to the Half-Life 2 saga when it is released later this year. Previously, the game had no official release window or date.

Today's gold announcement was the first official confirmation that a third Half-Life 2 episodic update is in development. Like Episode Two, Valve divulged little in the way of information about Episode Three, saying only that it was the last "in a trilogy...that will conclude by Christmas of 2007."

178 Comments

  • haadurin

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 2:26 pm PT

    over 3 years later and we haven't seen a damn screenshot yet. valve, WTF?!

  • silvergun2

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 4:50 pm PT

    wow come on valve finish episode three already

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 1:29 pm PT

    I really hope you obtain the Portal 'Aperature' from the Borealis research ship, now that would be fantastic!!

  • SirRailton

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 5:48 pm PT

    Let me put some optimism in doubt. They are problably taking so long on this game because it will be 100 x better than Episode 2! ! ! ! !! ! ! !

  • Gamespotes

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 11:09 am PT

    ok this 2009 where is our half life ep.3

  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 10:01 am PT

    'divulged little in the way of information about Episode Three, saying only that it was the last "in a trilogy...that will conclude by Christmas of 2007."'

    Nnnnnnnnot quite...

  • -abacus-

    Posted Jan 22, 2009 3:51 pm PT

    I hope with the suppression field on Alyx and Gordon get it on. I mean, the game has so many references, Alyx hitting on you and Eli like 'zomg gimme bebes to eat'

  • Colderon

    Posted Oct 8, 2008 9:13 pm PT

    I get the feeling that they are taking forever to release it because they have already started work on Half-Life 3, so not all of their resources are dedicated to this one project.

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 2:20 am PT

    i think ep 3 alyx and gorden is going to fly that helicopter that they showed at the end of ep 2 , that will be so cool if the player can pilot the chopper !!!

  • woofywoof

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 11:30 am PT

    Coming to X'mas 08 and still no news..

  • reo-117

    Posted Sep 25, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    come on when will more news come up

  • DJ_Criss

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    i hope some info comes out soon for episode 3...can`t wait to play it

  • robheisel

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 10:54 pm PT

    i think episode 3 is goanna focus on that ship they talked about on episode 2

  • chechak7

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 12:28 pm PT

    half life is my best FPS game ever

  • DeeDoubleYou

    Posted Sep 17, 2008 9:25 am PT

    Anyone heard anything about Half-Life 3 yet?

  • Children_of_Men

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    well, i guess its a little later than christmas of '07.

  • DeimosGT

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 5:39 am PT

    I hope this game will be very long and exciting.

  • reo-117

    Posted Aug 29, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    just finished hl 2 and ep 1 and 2 cant wait for this

  • Ken10Ethan

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 2:51 pm PT

    COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 2:12 am PT

    CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SEND ME MORE INFO OF HALFLIFE EPISODE 3 , OR JUST SEND ME THE WEBSITE PLEASE

  • edo_gamer

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:09 am PT

    Oh yeah! Now,this is more like it! Further than that boring city 17.EXCELLENT!

  • WarGrad

    Posted Jul 23, 2008 7:32 pm PT

    Just beat episode 2, bring on episode 3!!!! E3 just passed, anything mentioned about episode 3 yet

  • Minkey2279

    Posted Jul 4, 2008 5:08 pm PT

    Must... avenge... Eli Vance!

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 10:45 am PT

    I heard a 'Rumour' that Valve will be including the 'Portal' gun in Episode 3, and yes it will be available on 360 and assume PS3.

  • Masoud03

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 8:28 am PT

    i think half-life deserves a 10/10 more than MGS .... LONG LIVE HALF LIFE !!!! (BTW big boss is a one-eyed snake )

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 8:45 am PT

    can someone tell me if the game is only going to come out on pc or on the ps 3and xbox 360 ?

  • cristyrazvan

    Posted Jun 14, 2008 5:46 am PT

    I pray for the third episode to come out sooner, i can't wait for it! I love HL series !

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted Jun 12, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    THANX , CANT WAIT , DO YOU GUYS THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST HALF LIFE GAME?

  • IlPadrino12

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 3:44 am PT

    Half life 2 is the best game!!I can't wait for episode 3

  • s2-sohaib

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 1:12 am PT

    Release Date: 12/31/08

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted May 30, 2008 8:30 am PT

    hey when does the 3 one comes out ????? does any one knows????????

  • Ztoky

    Posted May 25, 2008 8:19 am PT

    i just completed Episode two and I LOVED IT SOOOOOO MUCH ... The serie just get better and better!

  • Chattermouth

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 11:25 am PT

    serious99sam: So is an XBox360, thus you'll be fine either way

  • s2-sohaib

    Posted Apr 23, 2008 3:56 am PT

    i think I'll die before they release episode 3 (~_~).

  • LOCHTE30000

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 10:03 am PT

    I love half life , cant wait 4 Half-Life 2: Episode 3 !!!

  • serious99sam

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 6:33 pm PT

    i hope its also for xbox 360 because my computer is a piece of crap

  • s2-sohaib

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 4:08 am PT

    when will they release the game. am waiting this game on fire .am so bored i wanna know what will happen after alyx's father die.this game is the best ,story ,music ,sound,graphic.
    LOVE THiE GAME....

  • jicku

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:08 am PT

    wow this game best game of fps cannon

  • t-man186

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 1:38 pm PT

    it sucks they cut the game off, as soon as Alyx's dad dies. Also before you get to pilot the helicopter.

  • Victor_Kudo

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 7:08 am PT

    It'll probably take another year at least until we get Episode Three. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=181670

  • vufor

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 8:25 pm PT

    Here we go, lets hope that this is it, we will get another HL game, I mean full game Half Life 3.

  • s2-sohaib

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 6:22 am PT

    this is my fav game.i hope that they make episode 3 way longer than 2.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Mar 14, 2008 4:11 am PT

    "Valve divulged little in the way of information about Episode Three, saying only that it was the last "in a trilogy...that will conclude by Christmas of 2007."

    LOL. That always makes me laugh. Valve never manage to stick to their release dates. They must work for like, 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. LOL

  • agustbestur

    Posted Feb 16, 2008 5:22 pm PT

    Cant w8 for episode 3!!!!!!!!!!!

  • colinisawesome

    Posted Feb 15, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    OOOOOOOOOH Im Spazzing with excitement

  • Dementedpancake

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 9:31 pm PT

    i am so obsessed with all VALVe games...
    my dream is to go work for them!

  • evilcupcake

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 6:41 pm PT

    cant wait till 3

  • MassDriver00

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 8:12 pm PT

    Actually, now you guys mention it, Valve SHOULD have provided us loyal fans with some news/progress report on Ep3...
    We're 2 months into 2008 - C'mon Gabe Newell!! Take a break from whipping the troops & give the people a situation report!! (Yes I'm goading to get a response!!)

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