No Half-Life 2: Episode 3 this E3, Valve to focus on Left 4 Dead

We all know that Valve’s Half-Life 2: Episode 2 kicked some serious booty last year, and it’s still among today’s favorites because of its superior gameplay. The only downside in this scenario is that fans are asking for more, and they’ve started looking at E3 2008 as the possible birthplace of the next episode. Valve says “not yet”, but they’ve got another thing for itchy trigger fingers. More after the jump.

Valve marketing exec Doug Lombardi has put a lid on the speculations that E3 2008 may be home to the first sighting of Half-Life 2: Episode 3. He said that the game will not be debuting there and the focus of the company will be on upcoming co-op FPS Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360, PC).

That might disappoint some Valve followers, but to make up for it, Lombardi said a playable Left 4 Dead demo will be available in the event. Left 4 Dead is scheduled to launch this fall.

Valve star developer Gabe Newell describes Left 4 Deadd as the co-op shooting scene’s answer to the legendary Counter-Strike which served as the groundwork to modern multiplayer shooting.

Perhaps it’s a bit too soon to ask for the next Half-Life 2 episode. After all, the last one launched only last year. But hey, who can blame the fans for wanting more? Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal from The Orange Box were just so sweet!

Via Next-gen