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[[File:Half Life.jpg|thumb|right|Film Fiction.net The Future of the Half-Life Universe]]

[[File:Half Life.jpg|thumb|right|Film Fiction.net The Future of the Half-Life Universe]]

The '''Half-Life universe''' encompasses the first person shooter Half-Life series, as well as the puzzle-based Portal series as spin-off series from Half-Life games.

The '''Half-Life universe''' encompasses the first person shooter Half-Life series, as well as the puzzle-based Portal series.

== Setting ==

== Setting ==

'''Aperture Science''' is a private company that competes with Black Mesa for government funding, with a comically haphazard approach to basic research and development.  In addition to stable [[wormholes]] and an alternative in-universe teleportation technology, their achievements include [[artificial intelligence|AI]]-controlled robotic systems (including reconfigurable architecture and weapon turrets), [[mind uploading]], and [[cryonics]].

'''Aperture Science''' is a private company that competes with Black Mesa for government funding, with a comically haphazard approach to basic research and development.  In addition to stable [[wormholes]] and an alternative in-universe teleportation technology, their achievements include [[artificial intelligence|AI]]-controlled robotic systems (including reconfigurable architecture and weapon turrets), [[mind uploading]], and [[cryonics]].

The '''Combine''' or '''Universal Union''', a multiverse-spanning, highly advanced technological civilization, are the main antagonists of the series.  Led by 'advisors' (large grublike aliens wholly dependent on their technology for physical tasks), the Combine subjugates other species using [[synthetic biology]] and overwhelming military might transported through inter-universe portals.  <i>Half Life 2</i> and its sequels are set in and around the eastern European '''City 17''', one of a series of Combine-controlled urban centers in which human survivors of their invasion (and the resulting ecological devastation) are concentrated.

 

The '''Combine''' or '''Universal Union''', a multiverse-spanning, highly advanced technological civilization, are the main antagonists of the series.  Led by 'advisors' (large grublike aliens wholly dependent on their technology for physical tasks), the Combine subjugates other species using [[synthetic biology]] with optional [[cybernetics]] and overwhelming military might transported through inter-universe portals.

== Futurist themes and concepts ==

== Futurist themes and concepts ==

[[File:400MillionDead.jpg|right|thumb|Delays are serious business]]

[[File:400MillionDead.jpg|right|thumb|Delays are serious business]]

<i>Half life 2: Episode 3</i>'s development has been widely known and discussed since 2006.  Originally intended for a tentative release for Christmas of 2007, the third and final game of Half-Life 2 lineup is still supposedly in development with very few known details.

<i>Half life 2: Episode 3</i>'s development has been widely known and discussed since 2006.  Originally intended for a tentative release for Christmas of 2007, the game is still supposedly in development with very few known details.  Leaks and rumors hint at several complete reworks of the plot and game design, with one iteration (allegedly in development from 2013 to 2015) hinging heavily on transhumanist themes and prosthetics.<ref name="hl3-posthuman">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVeScN7l3pg An Unconfirmed Half-Life 3 Story Leak], Tyler McVicker, <i>Valve News Network</i> on YouTube, December 24, 2018</ref>

 

In August 2017, series writer Marc Laidlaw posted a possible script for Episode 3 with swapped character names and genders to his personal blog.<ref>[http://www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/ Epistle 3], Marc Laidlaw, August 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urza2sbU68Q Half-Life 2: Episode 3's Story Released By Marc Laidlaw], Valve News Network, August 24, 2017</ref>  The story showcases "The Disparate's" technological power with a [[Dyson sphere]], and a character re-instantiated from [[Mind_uploading#Backup|personality backup]].

In August 2017, series writer Marc Laidlaw posted a possible script for Episode 3 with swapped character names and genders to his personal blog as 'Fanfic'.<ref>[http://www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/ Epistle 3], Marc Laidlaw, August 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urza2sbU68Q Half-Life 2: Episode 3's Story Released By Marc Laidlaw], Valve News Network, August 24, 2017</ref> The story showcases "The Disparate's" technological power with a [[Dyson sphere]], and a character re-instantiated from [[Mind_uploading#Backup|personality backup]].

Recent updates to several Valve games and their associated Software Development Kits have contained references to an apparently separate <i>Half Life</i> VR title, rumored to be a prequel to <i>Half Life 2</i>.<ref name="hlvr-1">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBFnoVr0_ck Half-Life: VR Story Leaks], Tyler McVicker, <i>Valve News Network</i> on YouTube, November 10, 2018</ref>

<i>Black Mesa</i>, A fan remake of the original <i>Half Life</i> in the Source engine, was originally released as a mod before transitioning to a commercial game while being early access in its own right with the support of Valve Software.  Later stages are still in development, especially working on remake version of Xen levels.

<i>Black Mesa</i>, A fan remake of the original <i>Half Life</i> in the Source engine, was originally released as a mod before transitioning to a commercial game in its own right with the support of Valve Software.  Later stages, set in the Xen borderworld, are still in development.

== Media ==

== Media ==