E3 Portal 2 event replaced by "surprise" News • News • Eurogamer.net

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Valve ready to unveil Episode Three?

Valve has announced, via a quirky email, that the Portal 2 E3 event has been replaced by "a surprise".

"However, per international treaties regarding the definition of the word 'surprise', of which both Aperture Science and Valve are signatories, the time, date and content of the actual surprise will only become available as you experience the surprise," the email reads.

Could this be the unveiling of Half-Life 2: Episode Three?

Valve will still be showing Portal 2 at E3 to press by appointment. E3 takes place from 15th to 17th June at the LA Convention Center.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

Comments (43) Latest comment 2 years ago

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matrim83 #1 2 years ago

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Screw Episode 3, its been 3 years Valve we want Half life 3 now.

Edit L4D3 wouldnt hurt either. Fuck the whiny boycotters.

Edited by 1 at 02/06/10 @ 08:14
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Les #2 2 years ago

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I sure hope so.

Bought HL2 for Mac the other day and though I still have plenty of PS2 and PS3 games unplayed on the shelf, it's hard to resist replaying that excellent game.

The Source engine is extraordinary. It might not be as flashy as some of the other offerings but they really nailed the lighting IMHO. And then there's the unrivalled level design. Gabe might be a dickhead but at least his company makes great games.

/edit: a few too many "great"s in there...

Edited by 1 at 02/06/10 @ 10:59
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Spekingur #3 2 years ago

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Replaced by cake.
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the_dudefather #4 2 years ago

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Ricochet 2
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Esnedon #5 2 years ago

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Deploying surprise in five... four...
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Der_tolle_Emil #6 2 years ago

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I'd take Episode 3 just as well. Never really got into HL1 (to this day I don't know why) but loved HL2 and EP1 and 2.
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Kilroy #7 2 years ago

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Don't even speculate about Episode 3. I get so incredible sad every E3 without any kind of info on that game.
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altitude2k #8 2 years ago

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Half-Life 3 has all but been confirmed in that TF2 media.
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esbenf #9 2 years ago

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I think Episode 3 will be Half-Life 3 - given the time it took Valve to make ep 1 & 2 I don't believe they would use 3 years on ep 3, if it hadn't evolved into a new game. Storywise it could pick up from episode 2, but still be a whole new game -hopefully with a major source overhaul as it is showing its age. Have just started playing HL 2 again on Mac, and its a great game to play again. The art direction, design and storytelling is just amazing - one of the only truly tasteful modern sci-fi games.
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asharkman #10 2 years ago

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They're going to announce it now and release it in another 2 years.
God that company is infuriating.
If only they didn't make such great games then the pain wouldn't be so bad.
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LowEnergyCycle #11 2 years ago

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Since E3 starts on my birthday this year, I expect nothing but Cake. Not the Lying kind though, please.
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Eraysor #12 2 years ago

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FINALLY
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RodHull #13 2 years ago

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I bet they'll announce HL2: Episode IV, with episode 3 being a prequel only available to download if you have Steam installed in your MINDS.
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altitude2k #14 2 years ago

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^__^ err.....what?
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TeaFiend #15 2 years ago

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I hope it is another addon for Half-Life 1.
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Ryboy #16 2 years ago

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Ooooooh! Exciting!

Valve can take as long as they fucking like to release their games if you ask me. ALL of their games are head and shoulders above anything else ever released, ever.
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TheTingler #17 2 years ago

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I'd love it if it was a proper Half-Life 3 unveiling.

Of course if it's Left 4 Dead 3, coming November, I'll properly boycott it this time... at least until its �5 or so.
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Retro_ #18 2 years ago

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I hope to god HL2-Ep3 comes to PS3 otherwise I will be really hacked off !
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superted1974 #19 2 years ago

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Just playing Portal on PS3 Orange Box
Level 19 seems sooo tough but trying not to give up!
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andywilkie35 #20 2 years ago

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The only "surprise" is if Episode 3 ever sees the light of day.
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dingo75 #21 2 years ago

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Valve can take as long as they fucking like to release their games if you ask me. ALL of their games are head and shoulders above anything else ever released, ever.

Blizzard and id want to have a word with you young man!
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ignatiusjreilly #22 2 years ago

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As a surprise, they will flood the building with a deadly neurotoxin.
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Ryboy #23 2 years ago

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@dingo75 - Nah it's a fair comment. WoW is a brilliant game, and I'm defo going to be checking out Starcraft II and most certainly Diablo 3. And, from what I have seen of Rage, it's looking good.

But no-one comes within 40 trillion light years of Valve for story, atmosphere, level/character design, sound design and so many more thing I can't even think of right now. And, to comment on an earlier post, I think the Source engine is still one of the best engines around today.

Edit: Epic spelling fail.

Edited by 1 at 02/06/10 @ 10:31
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Ged42 #24 2 years ago

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And the suprise will be, Gabe Newell dancing a jig on stage
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ChaK #25 2 years ago

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this will just crush move and natal at the same time in a big explosion, completly reversing time and sending fireballs all over the world.

Can't wait for valve's demo
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VicViper #26 2 years ago

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I read the whole press release on Giantbomb, as some in character press release shenaigans its fantastic, apparently Valve has a Chief Surprise officer.
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chrisola #27 2 years ago

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it's called 'Half Life' because that's how long you have to wait to play it to the end.

Worth every year though, one of the best FPS ever.

Edited by 1 at 02/06/10 @ 12:05
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Alatair #28 2 years ago

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/undertakes the suprise admission position.
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TeaFiend #29 2 years ago

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Fingers crossed for "Gabe Newell's Keep Fit for Natal"!
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sneetch #30 2 years ago

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Surprise will be... "HL versus L4D" a 2D beat em up. Sorry, should have said *SPOILERS* there!

I hope it's Episode 3 (I'd like to wrap that puppy up) but I won't exactly be astounded if it's not, they've definitely taken their foot off the pedal there with their focus on L4D, Portal and TF2 and now porting to Mac.
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DavidBoring #31 2 years ago

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biggest suprise would be a ps3 version
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Tanners #32 2 years ago

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The surprise is that

'ITS A LIE'
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Azazel #33 2 years ago

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My guess is an overhall of the naming system in an attempt to avoid 'football scoreline' syndrome.

Half Life 3: Decay Harder
Left For Dead 3 : The Redeadening

etc.
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Moonprince #34 2 years ago

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"And the suprise will be, Gabe Newell dancing a jig on stage"

...

http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=t5whaRkuipU
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fizzyfish #35 2 years ago

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Probably some kind of raw sewage container.
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MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #36 2 years ago

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I seriously doubt they'll announce Half Life 3 before Half Life Episode 3. They have set up the story for some sort of conclusion of the Half Life 2 Episodes plots, and I believe they'll follow through with that.

In fact, in terms of story set up, they have hinted at some sort of HL2:E3 / Portal crossover, which might explain why they're framing their surprise around a Portal event.

I'm going to call a 'some-colour-other-than-orange' box with Ep3, Portal 2 and something else we're not expecting.
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Caimbeul #37 2 years ago

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it bloody well better be its taken long enough!
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Verwandlung #38 2 years ago

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Administering morphine..
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thesonglessbird #39 2 years ago

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Half Life 4
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AnsemsApprentice #40 2 years ago

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Are they going to reveal E3 at E3? A little in-joke maybe?
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FutureWorld #41 2 years ago

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The cake is a lie.
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Zebula77 #42 2 years ago

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Hmf, the only thing I want from Valve is Portal 2. For the PS3. Portal was the only game I bothered playing out the...Orange Box (was it called that? Don't remember) collection. Absolutely brilliant game with a surprisingly good story and setting. Loved it.
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Hamhock #43 2 years ago

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If the next HalfLife "part" is announced in any form at E3, I will be so excited it will probably result in me soiling my union-jack underpants with more than poo and wee.
Again.
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