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Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw leaves Valve

Now a free man.

Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw has left Valve after 18 years at the company.

Marc Laidlaw is gravity gone from Valve.

Laidlaw's exit was revealed by a Redditor who had emailed the former Valve employee on the hunt for information about Half-Life 3. Laidlaw has since confirmed the authenticity of the email exchange to Eurogamer.

According to the Valve website, Laidlaw joined the company in 1997 to work on Half-Life. He is described as the "sole writer" on Half-Life and Half-Life 2, and the lead writer for the Half-Life episodes.

In the email exchange, Laidlaw explained his departure:

What of the future of Half-Life now Laidlaw has left Valve? While the world continues its 100-year wait for Half-Life 3 with bated breath, Laidlaw, it seems, has had his fill.

"Where Valve may choose to take Half-Life in the future is not in my hands," Laidlaw said.

"I have been a grateful co-creator, but my time working on the series is behind me."