Newell: Valve wants its games "more baked" before revealing them

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 20 February, 2012

"We're acutely aware of how much we annoy our fans."

As the wait for news on the next Half-Life game goes on, Valve boss Gabe Newell has explained the famed developer's current strategy on revealing new titles.

Valve's experience with Half-Life and Half-Life 2 caused a rethink, leading the company to back off from talking about future games until they're good and ready, Newell told Penny Arcade.

"Part of the reason that we backed off talking so much about what was happening in the future is that when we've done that in the past, you know, with Half-Life 1 it was a year after we originally said it would be, Half-Life 2 basically if you go and read the forum posts apparently took us 50 or 60 years to get done, so we're trying to be careful not to get people too excited and then have to go and disappoint them.

"So we're sort of reacting in the other direction and saying, 'okay, well let's have things a little more baked before we start getting people all excited about it.'"

Valve's continued silence over the next Half-Life, be it Half-Life 2: Episode 3 or Half-Life 3, has frustrated many of its fans.

Earlier this month 10,000 Valve fans logged on to play Half-Life 2 en-masse in an attempt to make their campaign for more Half-Life information heard. It was the result of a Steam Group, called A Call for Communication (Half-Life), that is lobbying Valve to release more information on the future of the much-loved series.

"The lack of communication between Valve and the Half-Life community has been a frustrating experience. While continued support for current and future products is greatly appreciated, fans of the Half-Life series have waited years for a word on when the franchise will return," the group's description reads.

"We're acutely aware of how much we annoy our fans and it's pretty frustrating to us when we put them into that situation," Newell told Penny Arcade, while agreeing with the suggestion that there is tension between all the various projects the company is interested in doing.

"We try to go as fast as we can and we try to pick the things that we think are going to be most valuable to our customers and if there's some magic way we can get more work done in a day then we'd love to hear about it.

"But we recognize that it's been a long time whereas we have so many games that people really love - Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead, not a whole lot of Ricochet enthusiasts out there, and at the same time we want to be making sure that those games and those stories and those characters are moving forward while also making sure that we don't just get into terminal sequelitis."

In June 2009 Newell said he had "very good reasons" for not discussing Half-Life 2: Episode 3, but refused to be drawn on them or when the developer would be able to open up about the concluding chapter in the FPS saga.

"I get a ton of email every day saying why aren't you talking about Episode 3? And there are very good reasons why we're not talking about Episode 3, which I can't talk about yet, but I will," Newell said at the time.

And last year, Newell told Eurogamer he wouldn't trade the "enthusiasm and straightforwardness of our fans for a quieter inbox".

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (92) Latest comment 3 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • StolenGlory #1 3 months ago

    More baked? You must be shitting me - it's been in the oven for over half a decade.

  • fafaf #2 3 months ago

    I'm recalling Newell or someone else at Valve saying something along the lines of how they could put $20 in a box and sell it for $10 and people would still complain.

  • TrilbyG #3 3 months ago

    They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

  • FireMonkey #4 3 months ago

    "I get a ton of email every day saying why aren't you talking about Episode 3? And there are very good reasons why we're not talking about Episode 3, which I can't talk about yet, but I will,"

    I wonder if the reason Sony changed how they work and allowed Steam on PS3 was part of a deal they got with Valve for a PS4 timed exclusive for HL3? Obviously he wouldn't be able to go into details about that yet and would mean it 'may' be used as demo showing the power of the PS4.

    It's complete speculation and probably way off the mark.

  • the_dudefather #5 3 months ago

    Can't argue with this beard

  • Kami #6 3 months ago

    @StolenGlory ; Agreed, any more baking and it'll be charcoal...

  • johnson81 #7 3 months ago

    I would love a game company to do this. Announce a new game and announce you can buy it in 4 weeks. I know this will never happen though as publishers love to know how many pre-orders there are etc.

  • smoothpete #8 3 months ago

    Having played HL2, Ep 1, Ep 2, and Portal 1 & 2, all in the last 3 weeks, all I can say is whatever you're going to do Mr Newell, please just do it right. Make it good. No, make it amazing. Drop my jaw, blow my socks off.

  • schnide #9 3 months ago

    So for everyone who scoffed at the recent A Call for Communication (Half-Life) campaign, let me know if you'd like any sauce for your humble pie.

    :chatty:

  • DrStrangelove #10 3 months ago

    Well at least he suggests they're onto something (something related to Episode 3 even), so I guess the fan group did succeed.

  • StooMonster #11 3 months ago

    Been replaying HL2 (and plan to do the two episodes too) since the A Call for Communication (Half-Life) weekend, and it's great fun.

    I only played through the HL2 games once before, so it's not overdone for me, but interestingly it's more "retro" that I imagined it would be.

  • Nico4 #12 3 months ago

    @liam_monster next gen

  • DrStrangelove #13 3 months ago

    @fafaf
    I'm recalling Newell or someone else at Valve saying something along the lines of how they could put $20 in a box and sell it for $10 and people would still complain.
    As an ex-salesman I can tell you that is how people are.

  • SpartanGR #14 3 months ago

    Translation: "We make a shit load of money with Steam now, we don't have to rush on making games anymore"

  • barnett666 #15 3 months ago

    Just imagine if at E3 this year Valve announce Episode 3 and then immediately prop it to STEAM and then subsequently ruin the event for everyone else as everyone will be playing that. Then they manage to upstage themselves by announcing HL3 on a new engine and it will be available by the end of this year…

    A man can dream can’t he……

  • sonicyoda #16 3 months ago

    "Valve wants its games "more baked" before revealing them"

    I can confirm that Half-Life 3 is currently smoking a joint.

  • Chuxfm #17 3 months ago

    "CS:GO release date is next week. SURPRISE ITS BEING BUNDLED WITH EPISODE 3"

    would be sweet ^^

  • The-Jack-Burton #18 3 months ago

    It's smart, helps keep the pressure off the development team and lets them focus on the task at hand.

  • digitalash #19 3 months ago

    Love the Ricochet reference.

  • matrim83 #20 3 months ago

    "But we recognize that it's been a long time whereas we have so many games that people really love - Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead...."

    Well thats your fault aint it? Solution is to make shitty games. That way no one pesters you for a sequel. :p

  • benfresh76 #21 3 months ago

    it's their game, I hope they bring it out when they want, and the less O know in the meantime, the better.

  • Rack #22 3 months ago

    "if there's some magic way we can get more work done in a day then we'd love to hear about it."

    Polyphasic sleep cycles. Can you announce Half-Life 3 now?

  • TheNonk #23 3 months ago

    Baked or cremated?

  • Eraser #24 3 months ago

    I'm sure they're working on Half-Life (episode) 3 in one way or another: otherwise he could've simply said that they aren't working on a new Half-Life game.

  • Thermobaric #25 3 months ago

    I can fully understand them not giving a release date. But at least say if it's going to be HL3 or EP3. Or at least some fucking screens...

  • deded #26 3 months ago

    HL3 new Xbox launch title confirmed? (And on PC as well, obviously).
    Edited by deded at 20/02/12 @ 13:10

  • tiddex #27 3 months ago

    imagine the whining if they would have announced it 2 years ago without giving any specific date. why people complain, is because the selfish fanboy from deep inside expects valva to work on half life and half life alone.
    let them do what they want and in their order and pace. i always read comments like "5 years and no result" who told you guys that they even worked on half life all these years? I dont think so.

  • Stratix #28 3 months ago

    All they need to do is release an awesome trailer confirming (and specifying) that they are working on either Half Life 2 ep 3 or Half Life 3, to be released sometime in the next decade.

    That would provide the communication required. They don't need to show any game play, or give any release time frame.

  • TrilbyG #29 3 months ago

    "...and if there's some magic way we can get more work done in a day then we'd love to hear about it."

    Brendan Mcnamara might have a few thoughts there.

  • Colin8703 #30 3 months ago

    I get the impression they may be creating a brand new engine for it and could even be waiting for the console tech to catch up.

    That would make sense from a business perspective.

  • hiddenranbir #31 3 months ago

    The reason still could be "There isn't a HL3....yet!" :D

  • Lukree #32 3 months ago

    I'm not really in a hurry. Please take your time and make it magnificent. You have my full trust!

  • arcam #33 3 months ago

    @Stratix All they need to do is release an awesome trailer confirming (and specifying) that they are working on either Half Life 2 ep 3 or Half Life 3, to be released sometime in the next decade.

    Surely you can see this would just increase all the whining and begging for details? And what would it achieve? We all know they are working on a new Half-Life, they are not going to dump their most popular franchise after a huge cliffhanger.

    Just let them get on with it, and be happy that when its announced, you won't have to wait another year or two to play it like so many other games.

  • RiversOfSand #34 3 months ago

    When it comes, it comes :-)

  • thesonglessbird #35 3 months ago

    Can't talk about Half Life 3 because it's being developed for next gen consoles perhaps?

  • Retro_ #36 3 months ago

    @Colin8703 You may be right, sadly!

  • darkmorgado #37 3 months ago

    @Colin8703

    Yeah, after over 5 years, I would imagine any new HL game will be on a new engine. Source Engine 2, or whatever. Source has had very long legs due to its modular nature, but there's only so far it can be stretched.

  • TheEarlOfZinger #38 3 months ago

    Half life 3 - It's a next gen release. That's what I took from that.

  • Toothball #39 3 months ago

    I'm fine with waiting until a game is close to being ready to hear about it. There are so many things happening now, it's hard to keep track of what might happen a few months down the line.

  • stryker1121 #40 3 months ago

    My guess is a big fat full fledged HL3 as a launch title for the new consoles.

  • X3Entente #41 3 months ago

    Since episode 2 came out, theyve done tf2, portal, left 4 dead, left 4 dead 2, portal 2, and now cs:go. honestly i dont think theyve been slacking off. people dont seem to understand that valve only has around 250 people.

  • kingmancheng #42 3 months ago

    I can understand and appreciate the mentality, but that's one hell of a baking he's giving. I'd say games like Left 4 Dead were pretty well baked and they of course continue to bake their Left 4 Dead series.

    Episode 2 was like 5 years ago. At this rate they'd have a new Source engine before we see Half Life 3. Get baking damn it!

  • vert1go #43 3 months ago

    @the_dudefather It's like he merged into George Lucas.
    Terrifyingly so.

  • JumpinJackFlash #44 3 months ago

    FireMonkey

    I wonder if the reason Sony changed how they work and allowed Steam on PS3 was part of a deal they got with Valve for a PS4 timed exclusive for HL3?

    If anything, HL3 will be a PC exclusive as Valve will be looking after their 40 million Steam customers first.

  • ashmon #45 3 months ago

    As amazing the source engine is its old. It will look quite dated on the next gen. Valve know this. Hl2:ep3/HL3 will be on a new engine. Valve like to break the mold, look what the source engine did for gaming in 2004.

    Also in 2004 you can put up with loading screens at every turn but in 2012+ not so. Granted they are cleverly disguised in Portal 2

  • FireMonkey #46 3 months ago

    @JumpinJackFlash - Timed exclusives 'usually' exclude PC.

    I should have been clearer and said 'console' timed exclusive as I agree with you. Would piss off too much of the fan-base not going with PC too.
    Edited by FireMonkey at 20/02/12 @ 14:24

  • JumpinJackFlash #47 3 months ago

    @ashmon

    I agree, this delay is more to do with a new Source Engine than anything else.

    When Half-Life 2 was released it was ground breaking. Valve will want to do the same with implementing the new Source Engine within games like HL3.

    When Valve get round to showing HL3 running on their new engine, i think it'll blow gamers away.

  • JumpinJackFlash #48 3 months ago

    deded

    HL3 new Xbox launch title confirmed?

    Not if MS keep charging $40,000 a patch. :lol:

  • Inmediasress #49 3 months ago

    The only thign I have to say to this.
    That while I like if a game is "baked" but the sort of Blizz like "when its done is done " mentality will bite both Blizz and Valve in the ass sooner or later.
    At least in the gamesales department (not that it matters to them lol)
    Wait too long and no matter how legendary a dev you are people are going to loose intertest in your game.
    Edited by Inmediasress at 20/02/12 @ 15:11

  • Uncompetative #50 3 months ago

    I suspect they changed the Engine. A touch of the "Broussards", methinks:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_Duke_Nukem_Forever

  • FenderMaster #51 3 months ago

    When you're fans buy into your games, and pay for two parts of a trilogy, it's really unfair to not give them closure. They paid good money to see the first episode and the second. I'm sure if the fans would have known it would take so long, or that they wouldn't be getting the final episode, many never would have invested in the trilogy.

    Valve actually owes them on this one.

  • jamieleng #52 3 months ago

    That explanation sounds a little Half-Baked.

  • Camilitus #53 3 months ago

    ok, what about left for dead 3?

  • fisherpot #54 3 months ago

    Thats enough for me to know! I guess they have been on the case for a while now and because of the next gen they won't say much till possibly E3 this year or next! Valve can take their time as I don't want a halflife game that's no good!

  • FireMonkey #55 3 months ago

    @FenderMaster - I think it's better that they get the time to end it how they want rather than just chuck out a 3rd Episode to close the story.

    I still haven't forgiven Quantum Leap for the really bad, rushed ending they did. Would have preferred no closer to that.

  • robertw.burnham #56 3 months ago

    "And there are very good reasons why we're not talking about Episode 3, which I can't talk about yet, but I will."

    Well there you go. He says he will be talking about it at some point. Frankly, that's good enough for me. I would imagine the biggest issue is taking the classic game play and narrative style of the Half-Life games and modernizing them enough to appeal to the current generation of gamers without crapping all over the things that made the older games charming and brilliant. Also doing justice to the complex and interesting story is going to be a challenge. But if anyone can do it, Valve can. And if they can't do it, Ogre can.

  • Snufkin #57 3 months ago

    Part of me hopes Valve wait for the next generation of consoles before releasing Half-Life 3, to really do the game justice (yes I see you PC gamers waving, we all know you could do it justice now...).

    However, the other part of me suspects this will be my last generation in gaming so HURRY THE FUCK UP VALVE!

  • geeza2020 #58 3 months ago

    Maybe if we start a vicious internet rumour that Valve have decided to never continue the Half-Life story, and what we've got is everything there ever will be, lots of people will start boycotting Valve games altogether and then they will be forced to release something, anything to get the fans back onside. All this begging and pleading isnt getting any response, so why not go the backstabbing betraying route instead?

  • geeza2020 #59 3 months ago

    @robertw.burnham - that quote is from 2009!

  • Nova1977 #60 3 months ago

    They're gonna announce HL3/Ep3 at E3 this year and release it a week after E3...I really want it to be that way.

  • mr_pink #61 3 months ago

    I think they must be working on it right now. Otherwise if they had not even started it then it wouldn't be released for another 3/4 years at the very least. By which point, the interest of many fans would wane significantly. Many who had enjoyed it the first time round would be older and possibly no longer be gamers. It wouldn't make financial sense for the game not to be well into its development cycle. Knowing how long Valve take to polish things, I think that's probably what's left to do. This may just be wishful thinking, but it makes sense to me.

  • Geoff900 #62 3 months ago

    I prefer this being honest, Valve are good developer they will do what they want to do, and will amaze us with their next game.

    I hate developers who promise lots, or show lots of things which end up being cut, at least this way you don't get to excited and expect miracles.

  • Geoff900 #63 3 months ago

    @mr_pink If it took an extra 4-5 years to make Half-Life it's fans would wait, they will bitch about it but they will wait.

  • Geoff900 #64 3 months ago

    @Uncompetative It won't be anything like Duke Nukem Forever.

    Valve have no publishers as such, they can take as long as they want.

    Judging by Valves history I very much doubt their next game will be anything as Duke Nukem.

  • mr_pink #65 3 months ago

    @Geoff900 Yeah but they would lose a lot of people in the mean time. People get married, have kids and less time for gaming. HL2 is a distant enough memory that people who missed it the first time around wouldn't be drawn to HL3 in the same way as if they'd mainlined the sweet crack of its predecessor. From a financial perspective, if you want to maximise your profits on a franchise you need to keep it relatively fresh in people's minds.

  • arcam #66 3 months ago

    From a financial perspective, if you want to maximise your profits on a franchise you need to keep it relatively fresh in people's minds.

    This is Half-Life, not the latest flavour-of-the-month console shooter. This kind of attitude would ruin one of gaming's most-loved series, so, in the nicest possible way, and with all due respect, please STFU.

  • simplerotation #67 3 months ago

    So my assumption is that they built a lot of the game, realised that it now looked shit by comparison to the newer stuff, for several reasons, mainly because tech has moved on so much, so they're having to go back and re-do remake levels, which always takes much longer because then you decide to scrap even more stuff, so they're now stuck in a bit of a loop with it...which is why they can't show anything because visually it needs to be STUNNING or people are going to be disappointed.

  • Caimbeul #68 3 months ago

    " Valve boss Gabe Newell has explained the famed developer's current strategy on revealing new titles"

    In other words "we havent even started yet" or "We are too busy raking in cash from Steam"

  • klassobanieras #69 3 months ago

    "And there are very good reasons why we're not talking about Episode 3, which I can't talk about yet, but I will"
    Woo, I can't wait for him to be able to talk about why he can't talk about it.

    But couldn't he at least talk about he can't talk about why he can't talk about it?

  • KanePaws #70 3 months ago

    Calm down guys: he just wants the next instalment of Half-Life to be as polished as Duke Nukem was after its 10 years of design.

    Edit: someone beat me to it! :o
    Edited by KanePaws at 20/02/12 @ 18:40

  • Fox89 #71 3 months ago

    "I get a ton of email every day saying why aren't you talking about Episode 3? And there are very good reasons why we're not talking about Episode 3, which I can't talk about yet, but I will," Newell said at the time.
    You see, even this tiny morsel of information would be better than nothing. Because it strongly implies "We are working on SOMETHING relevant to the Half Life series, even if we can't tell you what". So let's have some more announcements like that but, you know, in 2012?

    Remember Gabe: fans aren't asking for much. Just a little reassurance that Valve haven't completely forgotten about the franchise will do just fine!
    Edited by Fox89 at 20/02/12 @ 19:02

  • Thermobaric #72 3 months ago

    I guess they're content with trolling with that HL3 t-shirt for the moment.

  • Srift #73 3 months ago

    baked? whats gabe talking about cookies?

  • goldbug #74 3 months ago

    Happy to wait. Still yet to play a Valve game I haven't considered amongst the best games I've ever played. Take your time, Gabe. Do what you need to do.

  • ajaxpliskin #75 3 months ago

    There you go, he's subtly telling you that... it exists!

  • GhostPig #76 3 months ago

    Gabe Newell: the only man in videogame history to impose a superinjunction upon himself.

    (Almost.)

    With all that weight of expectation, though, it's hard not to feel sorry for the devs. Can you imagine actually working on HL3?

    No pressure...

  • mr_pink #77 3 months ago

    @arcam how exactly would releasing HL3 within *8 years* of HL2 put it in the same bracket as the yearly iterations of COD and its ilk? With the greatest possible respect, please GFY.

  • Velios #78 3 months ago

    He can't talk about why he isn't talking about something lol

  • WAusJackBauer #79 3 months ago

    Everyone leave the poor man alone. It's coming and if you don't think it is you're an idiot.

  • Wyrm #80 3 months ago

    Valve needs weed.

  • Lucodeath #81 3 months ago

    Wonder if halflife source will be released b4 halflife 3

  • disappointed #82 3 months ago

    I don't understand why HL3 being a next-gen release would prevent them from saying "we're working on it." It's not like they'd even have to mention the existence of next-gen consoles. I think there must be more to this.

  • jogyourmind #83 3 months ago

    I wish every company would do this. I hate getting updates on games every few days for 18 months before it finally arrives.

  • Davemanz #84 3 months ago

    Valve has earned my trust and patience as far as I'm concerned. They don't put out a bad product. Shit, I'd take a Ricochet 2, that game was fun as hell.

  • Harmonica #85 3 months ago

    Valve are the masters of the universe (not just Half-Life, gaming in general) so yes to a great extent they can do whatever they want because they have never ever got it wrong (perhaps only the initially botched launch of Steam/HL2 is their only black mark). I think the 'don't talk about how it's done when it's done' policy is absolutely fine. If they announced Half-Life 3 they are just inviting vast pressure and exponential hype and allowing outside forces to shape their development cycle (assuming it exists - but let's hope it bloody does).

    On the other hand, when you start a story and tell it so very well, you do honestly owe it to your audience to finish it sooner rather than later. We're already past later. But hey....keep on dreaming. Portal 3/HL3 crossover (my dream).
    Edited by Harmonica at 21/02/12 @ 03:51

  • 7_ShininGAngel #86 3 months ago

    Like Portal 2 ended I can't imagine how Portal 3 could be continued.
    Maybe in the real world?
    Or play as the 2 robots, which wouldn't look that interesting though ^^

  • PlugMonkey #87 3 months ago

    @StolenGlory
    More baked? You must be shitting me - it's been in the oven for over half a decade.
    And? That's really not that long. Loads of new IPs will be in development for half a decade before you even hear about them.

    Then you demand a sequel just as good in 2 years, max.

    And then you bitch and moan if it's not as good as the original.

    Good on Valve for not doing this.
    if there's some magic way we can get more work done in a day then we'd love to hear about it
    See, now, I've worked on projects where people have thought the magic way to get more work done in a day is to swell the team to 200 heads. It doesn't work very well. The best way to make great games is with an intimate team, and plenty of time.

    Release it when it's ready, Valve. Not after a 200 man, 12 month crunch, and then only because the deadline has hit.

  • TheEarlOfZinger #88 3 months ago

    @Snufkin

    "the other part of me suspects this will be my last generation in gaming"

    Why?!!!? My dad is over 60 and all he wants to talk about is what he's been up to in Skyrim (whenever I ring him) haha

  • superflyninja #89 3 months ago

    Quite frankly he reminds me of a kid who threw their toys out of the pram. why be so extreme in the lack of communication? Why not just find a happy medium?

  • sovietuk #90 3 months ago

    Coming soon - a new steam-based console from valve partnered with [random pc hardware manufacturer], with half-life 3 as an exclusive title at launch... would be a breath of fresh air for developers, and yet again shake up the gaming market, no?

    (i suspect not tho - you'd assume in an ideal world something like that would be commodity-pc-hardware based and capable of playing the steam back catalogue, which would mean persuading Microsoft to allow you to licence windows+direct-x, or some reverse engineered equivalent. That, and I know they're cash rich but a hardware launch on that scale would be immensely expensive?)

  • Smoped #91 3 months ago

    This just hit me as I read the article, so forgive me if this has been discussed before, but I think I know what his good reasons are.
    Valve obviously wants to put the next Half-Life out on consoles, loads of money to be made and millions of fans who have bought the Orange Box. But obviously the next Half-Life can't look like HL2, PC technology has advanced quite a bit from those days. But then how are you going to port a state of the art 2010/11/12/13 PC game to current consoles without it looking like crap in comparison? Of course the answer is: you don't. You wait for the next console generation and while you're at it, secure a zillion billion dollars from Nintendo for making Half-Life 3 a Wii U launch title.

    Okay, that last sentence might not actually pan out, but I'm pretty certain about the rest of it.

  • andrewp88 #92 3 months ago

    So, anybody remember KOTOR II? A perfect example of a game cut and rushed to meet deadlines. I am as frustrated as anyone, but would prefer a knock your socks off project to a rushed and flawed one - even if it does take time. I mean, it's not like Valve don't know we want it...so there's a reason why it's taken the time it has (and is).