With no official confirmation of either title, "HL3" has come to refer to whatever is next in the series. I've seen tons of comments across different sites that continue to "correct" this but I really don't think it is a distinction that needs to be made.

The distinction is absolutely significant. It's all about expectations. The originally promised "HL2:Episode 3" didn't need to be some huge revolutionary product, just a satisfying conclusion to HL2 and its episodes, while setting up the scene for the next game. As soon as people start saying "HL3" they expect some grandiose, ground breaking product.

The story laid out here by Marc is much closer to what you would expect from Episode 3 rather than HL3.

I basically meant that (generally) everyone who has been talking about HL3 over the years is just referring to the next hypothetical installment.

> events following those described in my previous letter (referred to herewith as Epistle 2).

If 'Epistle 3' does not mean 'Episode 3', then 'Gertie Fremont' does not refer to 'Gordon Freeman'. That's what the author called it, whatever the internet at large thinks at any point in time is less relevant IMO.

You're right, must have missed that part. Regardless, whether it's HL3 or HL2:E3 I think it's safe to say it's not happening. I'd be surprised if Valve really is sitting on this project for the next big tech breakthrough they achieve. Hard to say.

I agree - this is the story outline for HL2:EP3. If this is close to the truth of the projected story line, it's way too short. It wraps up HL2:EP1 and HL2:EP2 nicely but I'm going to be naive and say it's not the end of HL3.

Maybe the best move now is to just move on directly to HL3 and reference part of this released story line as flashbacks.

I can dream, right?

Valve has basically implied that this is going to be the case, since it's been too long without a release for them to continue the episodic format

Valve don't seem particularly inclined towards the HL franchise and haven't been for a long time. Do you have a source for that claim?

Code leaks in updates to some of their newer games reference "hl3": http://www.valvetime.net/threads/minor-half-life-3-reference...

Gabe Newell talks about abandoning the episodic schedule here: https://www.develop-online.net/analysis/the-valve-manifesto/...

> Code leaks in updates to some of their newer games reference "hl3"

My assumption has been for years that "HL3" is as much a joke inside Valve as it is outside of it.

> Gabe Newell talks about

This was six years ago.