It's been eight years since 'Half-Life 2: Episode Two' was released and since that time, information on continuing episodes or an altogether new 'Half-Life 3' have yet to be released by game developer Valve.

For a franchise that has received almost universal approval from a critical and commercial standpoint, it's somewhat refreshing to see a developer that is not inclined to rush out a product to capitalize on what would no doubt be massive sales for their product. On the other hand, fans are certainly disappointed at the lack of new content, most particularly since the last content update ended on a cliffhanger.

Still, various nuggets of information over the years suggest that Valve is still working on a potential 'Half-Life 3', though the question remains as to whether that potential can actually be realized. Valve is certainly not in any rush given the massive success and consistent revenue stream via the Steam platform but there is clearly a story that begs to be finished meaning 'Half-Life 3' will still be relevant to the franchise as a whole.

For now, rumors on potential announcements, leaked information, and various media work will always surround the franchise. At the latest, a report by the Tech Times discusses a potential 'Half-Life 3' reveal at this year's Game Developer's Conference. They list a variety of clues suggesting a 'Half-Life 3' announcement but ultimately conclude that such an announcement is probably nothing more than wishful thinking at this point in time.

Another rumor making the rounds online is HTC collaborating with Valve on a potential video game for the former's virtual reality headset. In an interview with BBC News, HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang indicated that they were "co-operating with Half-life" although the response was somewhat vague and is most likely nothing more than a reference to ongoing discussion with Valve on potential projects in the future.