It's hard to believe it's already been nearly 12 years since the launch of the original Left 4 Dead. The series quickly cemented itself as one of the best multiplayer first-person shooters of all time, winning multiple awards including 2008's PC game of the year. The sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, found similar success on both consoles and PC. The game still enjoys an active player base on Steam and even received a new DLC update a few months ago.
With the Left 4 Dead series making somewhat of a resurgence this year, many fans are hoping for a new entry. Unfortunately, Left 4 Dead 3 won't be happening for a very long time. In fact, the beloved series may never receive a new addition. There have been several indications Value abandoned Left 4 Dead 3 and has no desire to pick up where it left off.
Rumors of a new Left 4 Dead game lit the Internet on fire earlier this year after HTC Vive China President Alvin Wang Graylin posted some misleading presentation slides to his Twitter. The slides hinted at a VR version of Left 4 Dead 3, driving avid fans to come up with a slew of conspiracies revolving around the alleged sequel.
It got so out of hand that Valve released a public response saying the company isn't working on a new Left 4 Dead entry and hasn't in a very long time. This did little to curb fans' enthusiasm, as many continued holding out for a VR sequel.
The chances of a Left 4 Dead 3 are slim to none. Value has a history of abandoning its cherished franchises and focusing attention on other projects. It took the company 13 years to return to the Half-Life franchise, after more than a decade of pushback from fans. If it took Valve 13 years to return to what is arguably its biggest IP, it's extremely unlikely it will revisit Left 4 Dead any time soon.
Valve doesn't really have a reason to resurrect the Left 4 Dead series other than pleasing its adoring fans. Half-Life: Alyx launched to great success while Valve continues raking in profits with Steam. In fact, the company seems to be investing most of its time in its digital marketplace.
After more than a decade, Left 4 Dead fans aren't any closer to L4D3 than they were 10 years ago. With Steam and various other projects taking up most of Valve's time, the chances of Left 4 Dead 3 grow smaller by the day. Although the future doesn't look bright for the beloved zombie franchise, fans still have hope Valve will resurrect the series when it believes the time is right.
The gaming community has seen its fair share of miracles and Valve is one of the most unpredictable companies in the industry. If Half-Life Alyx taught fans anything, it's to expect the unexpected -- which may include more Left 4 Dead.