Half-Life 2: Episode Two pushed to 2007?

Valve's director of marketing is quoted as saying the PC, PS3, 360 FPS has been delayed.

Last month, attendees of Electronic Arts' Summer Showcase were taken aback when Valve Software CEO Gabe Newell took the stage. The developer's unannounced pop-in was to unveil the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Half-Life 2. What was surprising, though, was that both console editions would include both the Episode One and still-unreleased Episode Two episodic expansion packs and would ship alongside the latter later this year.

Today, though, 360 and PS3 owners who had been hoping to ring in the holidays blasting headcrabs got a preemptive lump of coal in their stockings. In an interview with Eurogamer, Valve director of marketing Doug Lombardi flatly said that all three versions of the game would not launch in 2006.

"It's just sort of classic Valve being overly aggressive on our dates," the usually tight-lipped executive told the site, referring to his company's long history of missing release dates. "But we're aiming for Q1 [2007] right now, and we're really far along in the play test stage." Attempts to directly contact Lombardi, who is currently in Europe, were unsuccessful as of press time.

Lombardi also confirmed the PC Half-Life 2: Episode Two would launch alongside the 360 edition, which Valve is developing internally, and the PS3 edition. Lombardi also told Eurogamer that the PS3 Episode Two is being codeveloped at an unnamed internal EA studio, as well as at Valve's Bellevue, Washington, headquarters.

Lombardi also reportedly reiterated that both console versions of Episode Two would contain the original Half-Life 2, the Episode One expansion, the revamped version of Team Fortress 2, and the all-new game Portal. A similarly all-inclusive PC edition would also be available, and all three would "end up being around standard full price as a console title and a PC title." It was unclear if Lombardi meant current or next-generation consoles.

For those that already own Half-Life 2 and Episode One, Lombardi reportedly said Valve was prepping a version of Episode Two that only had the expansion, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. He said that version would "probably be somewhere in between Episode One [pricing] and full price." In North America, Episode One currently retails for $19.99.

156 Comments

  • chechak7

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 2:41 pm PT

    HL 2 Ep 2 is great game and i look forward for it

  • CloudStrifeIXI

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 7:49 pm PT

    Well, games do that. If we want games to be top quality, you have to wait. Be patient and just play other games for the time being. Of course, delays are never good, and this is no exception, but if that is what it takes for a great HL 2 Ep 2 experiance, so be it!

  • pspactivesage

    Posted Dec 5, 2006 10:59 pm PT

    Guys relax valve offers a great service ok isnt the games they have given us awsome enough.

    If they rush the game then you all will be crying and weting your pants coz this is buggy and that is buggy so chillax and stop bashing These people can you make a fraken game huh, or start your own gaming design company huh?

    So shut up and be greatfull we have companys like this ok Over and out

    Sagemaster

  • Str8playaJr

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    it pushed to march 1 2007

  • Procheater

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 11:19 am PT

    ... Got news - bad. My friend (is an idiot) took an approach too blunt, now his friend won't squeal at all, soz to waste time, folks. (I didn't see that coming (!) /sarcasm )

  • Procheater

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 12:07 pm PT

    My friend apparently has the Valve's Coding guy (name o' Jeep... the coding guy, not my friend) in his MSN's Buddy List, so I asked my friend to ask Jeep about it (Coding.... Ideas to further screw up the release dates, methods, more screw-ups). and he says he'll ask him once he comes online and give me a scan of the convo. I'll add more when it arrives.

  • cc3d

    Posted Oct 7, 2006 4:56 pm PT

    Typical Valve, except now with the 360 and PS3 in the picture, we can expect the PC quality to drop.

  • blitzkrieg13

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 5:23 am PT

    *builds time machine*

  • scotier

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 9:03 pm PT

    some how i was actually surprised to hear this. recent videos and ads for the game and getting everyone excited, and then they drop it back for no reason again. valve is a halmark in terrible buisness. sigh, now what do i have to look forward too for the next gad damned two months?

  • Butters86

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 10:09 am PT

    Woah, delayed! Oh well, I still have time to buy another video card. My 9200 is way outdated

  • Notoria

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 4:41 pm PT

    this better be worth the wait.

  • realmanishere

    Posted Sep 25, 2006 10:22 am PT

    man, if next episode come up with full price of the game, it's not worth to by it

  • TwitchPunk

    Posted Sep 25, 2006 9:51 am PT

    Maybe Im a bit jaded but this delay and new pricing hint reeks of "consoleportscrewinguppcgame-itis". New platform means more development time and the releasing a $20 ps3/xbox360 game would probably crash the game market or something.

  • Forfur

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 4:29 am PT

    GUYS! You've got to remember that the longer a company like Valve delays a game, the better it will be!

  • Mysen12

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    In my opinion, a delay of one of the most anticipating games is a gamer's worse nightmare. Some people like I am, are BEGGING to play Episode Two and its features, Team Fortress 2 and Portal. This is either stupid, fun to Valve, or just flat-out evil. But, at least to look at the bright side it will come out and we have time to save up for it. But for god's sake, can't it come out sooner? Cuz this is bad news. Good news would be most highly appreciated =(

  • twocinc

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 7:55 pm PT

    Wait.. so if I own nothing, I can buy HL2, HL2:EP1, HL2:EP2, Portal, and TF2 for standard full price - say $50 for a PC game. However, if I already own HL2 ($50 retail), and HL2:EP1 ($20 retail), I can expect to pay between $20-$50 for just HL2:EP2? So Valve is basically trying to screw longtime fans. Valve: keep pricing for the episodic content at $20. Also, how 'bout a price break for purchase over Steam since we're saving you distribution and retailing costs.

  • renorlibrado

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    putangina niyo

  • SCPsyWarrior

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:47 pm PT

    I vote for calm. I would much rather have a finished and polished game late, than have an unfinished game early.

    Anyway, if Valve had gone the non-episodic route, we would still be waiting this time next year for them to basically release the three episodes as a single game.

    -PsyW

  • spencdiamonds

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:01 pm PT

    I speak as a Half-life finatic this is frickin @$*%$*$ valve should stop doing this. even though half-life 2 was worth the year wait they shouldn't make us wait a year for the next episodes!

  • halofreak3487

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    not again =[

  • jkresse

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 7:20 pm PT

    yeah maybe they could push it out faster if they had more than 104 employees.

  • fritszV2

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 6:42 am PT

    well actully you should be glad its 1/2 months and not another year like they did with HL2

    but still i dont like it, damm it valve: Learn how to predict a good release date when you are creating a game

  • nyoe

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    your all stupid half life delayed a year hl2 delayed a year ep 1 delayed 7 months you shouldn't actually expect valve to be on time with a release date

  • Trooperdx3117

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:22 am PT

    You'd think considering Half life was what made valve they would make sure it was released in 2006

  • 336_07

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 11:14 pm PT

    you go to hell...you go to hell and you die!!!!!

  • 336_07

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 10:46 pm PT

    DAMNIT you stuipid company go die!! i am going to kick you all in the NUTSSS!

  • Str8playaJr

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 7:39 pm PT

    danm

  • maddog123

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 6:21 pm PT

    .......must ...refrain...from .... getting wire fun ninja team.... and .... killing .... valve executives.....AHHHHH!!!!!

  • CtEagan

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    Too bad....It's to be expected anyway.

  • ___-L-___

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 8:54 pm PT

    O well, just leaves more money towards a Wii, i was excited tho...

  • samus_hfm

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    oh no ......... but at least it'll be better

  • vdarkfall999

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    This...always...happens.

  • coolcool23

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    "It's just sort of classic Valve being overly hesitant about every HL game.'"

    Thats what should have been said, but I guess if Ep. 2 is really great you can chalk it up to long dev periods in between release dates.

  • ultrazone

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 8:19 pm PT

    Well, even though this is a bit of a downer, I can wait. I'm still a bit disappointed they're selling the stand alone expansion for 20 bucks. If you do the math, the 2 expansions and the game at the current price would be about 80 dollars...throw in team fortress 2....hundred greenbacks there. The 360 and PS3 versions will probably sell at $60 dollars...thats a better value in my opinion.

  • Jac5232

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 12:11 pm PT

    Ah well. At least the wait WILL be worth it. Better than getting a Half-Life 2 EP2 so buggy it makes Big Rigs seem stable by comparision.

  • boocreepyfootdr

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 6:45 am PT

    Thats terrible news!

  • dileepvr

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 5:51 am PT

    What's new??

  • Rockstar5555

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 12:12 am PT

    Damn! have to wait though.

  • nascarfan123

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:40 pm PT

    D4MNIT!!!

  • jman183

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:29 pm PT

    Awww....I thought Valve would be ontop of things by now...silly me

  • holybookofaye

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:20 pm PT

    It's Valve, is this not to be expected?
    Still: *sigh*

  • SH_guY

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 5:22 pm PT

    no! no no no no!

  • Master-Mykol

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

  • rok_diablo

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 4:06 pm PT

    lol

  • takeo_miyazaki

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    yeah like we didnt know this would happen!!!

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:19 pm PT

    You can't do this to me Gordon! Oh and I agree with you ledgic_13 because Gordon has a crowbar so he automatically wins (duh!) lol

  • VegetaMaelstrom

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 1:05 pm PT

    No big surprise here. Valve is about as reliable as Peter Molyneux when it comes to making release dates. Which is, God frigging awful.

  • ledgic_13

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    i still think that gordon freeman can take on master cheif any day of the week!!
    cause half life is the f$ckin S#it

  • jdbthexboxgamr

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:52 pm PT

    well,being delayed can be a good thing actually,now they have more time to polish it up...........

  • peljam

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    I can't wait to be able to pick up and throw new and different things with the gravity gun. I saw they had a hatchet. You could pick it up and throw it and everything. Maybe that is why the release is being pushed back.

    Just tried the demo for 'Just Cause'. It might not have the latest graphics, but the game play is actually 'Fun'. Remember Fun?

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Half-Life 2 Boxshot
Half-Life 2

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    118 of 59,064
    (up by 11)
    PC Rank:
    40 of 11,439
    Tracking:
    45,078 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    9,699 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    10,511
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player Online Modes: Team Oriented

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. half-life 2
    2. fps
    3. valve
    4. hl2
    5. half life 2
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Related Games

Site Blogs