10 Video Game Cliffhangers That Will Never Be Resolved
5. Half-Life 2: Episode 2
The non-existent sequel to Half-Life 2: Episode 2 has become a popular meme topic over the last ten years, almost like fans of the series are trying to turn their frustration into something more positive. They have every right to be frustrated too, because not only does Episode 2 end on a cliffhanger, but Episode 3 was explicitly promised to them on multiple occasions.
The haunting ending of the game shows the death of old Eli Vance, who is killed by a Combine Advisor that shoves its tongue into the back of his head. His daughter Alyx then cradles his lifeless body and begins to weep, before the screen fades to black and the credits roll.
So what happened to Alyx and Gordon Freeman from here? Valve probably knows, but the rest of us don't. Episode 3 was supposed to launch by Christmas of 2007, and even the developer commentary for Episode 2 stated that a sequel was coming. But, of course, it never did.
The most annoying thing about the absence of an Episode 3 (or even a Half-Life 3) is that Valve has never outright stated that it's cancelled. The only response fans ever seem to get is "we have nothing to say at this time", which is partly why the whole thing turned into a joke. It's almost like Valve is scared of the backlash they'd receive if they confirmed that the game is dead, which is odd, because they're getting a ton of backlash anyway.
Regardless, after a decade of increasingly declining fan optimism, it doesn't look like Episode 3 will ever see the light of day.