Valve has released a documentary celebrating the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2, which includes gameplay footage from the canceled Half-Life 2: Episode 3. The gameplay showcases an Arctic environment, featuring a brand-new Ice Gun and Alyx as a key companion character.

The documentary provides insights into the development of Half-Life 2: Episode 3, revealing that Alyx would have played an essential role as a companion character to combat enemies that could split into multiple parts. The Ice Gun was also intended to be used for exploration and traversal, allowing players to create ice bridges and platforms.

Valve explains that the game was canceled because it didn't push anything forward or evolve the FPS genre. Gabe Newell, the founder of Valve, commented that the game could have been released but felt it wasn't compelling or different enough. Development of Half-Life 2: Episode 3 lasted about six months before the team shifted its focus to Left 4 Dead.