Warren Spector said that working on the cancelled Half-Life episode was 'a little frustrating,' but he will be 'forever thankful' to Valve for preserving his studio.

Valve had bigger plans than just Half-Life 2 Episode 3. It's easy for people to forget that Half-Life 2 Episode 3 has never been released and is unlikely to ever be. Half-Life 2 episode 4 was planned for a long time, by multiple studios. The first was Junction Point founded in 2004 by Warren Spector. Unfortunately, like so many Half Life projects, it never made it to the screen.

"My guess would be that they expected faster progression than we delivered," he said to Jeremy Peel. Spector spoke with Peel for an upcoming immersive sims article that you can look forward to next month. The episode focused on Ravenholm, a haunted neighbourhood that is one of Half-Life 2’s most iconic locations. It wouldn't be last time an episode was cancelled that focused on the haunted area.

Junction Point had to learn to use Valve's tools, but it did so before it received some bad news.

Spector said, "It was a bit frustrating to be honest." "We just figured how their tools worked and what we could do with it, as well as what we wanted to use them for when they closed the project."

The unnamed episode of the show was cancelled and the two companies parted ways. Junction Point was eventually acquired by Disney. It then developed Epic Mickey, which was remade, as well as its sequel before it was closed down in 2013.

Spector doesn't hold a grudge. "I'll always be grateful to Valve, for keeping us alive during a very tough time for the studio," said Spector. "We couldn't have survived without them."

In 2007, Valve cancelled that project as well. Valve cancelled the project in 2007. Noclip, a documentary channel, produced an episode in 2020 on Arkane Ravenholm. Two years later, they released an hour-long video showing off the cancelled project. It's the closest we'll get to playing it.

Valve's selection of studios is still interesting, and there are strong ties between Junction Point and Arkane. Arkane's Arx Fatalis was inspired by Ultima Underworld where Spector worked as producer. Harvey Smith, Arkane's designer, worked with Spector as lead designer for Deux Ex and Invisible War at Ion Storm. Valve clearly wanted some immersive sim experience, but it didn't work out.