Update: This has now been confirmed as fake.

Valve has filed a trademark application for Half-Life 3 on the EU trademark registry. Could this end the years of wanting and speculation over the flagship franchise, and its elusive sequel? We’ll have to wait and see, but hopefully not for that much longer. The trademark mentions a few interesting things, most notably “downloadable computer game software via a global computer network”.

Interestingly, no application has been filed in the U.S as of yet. Fans have been waiting patiently, agonizing, clawing at any scrap of information Gabe Newell and his team vaguely referred to ever since the last game in the Half-Life series was released in 2007.

Since that time, Valve’s Steam service has become more successful than anyone could have imagined. It’s also interesting that since Half-Life 2: Episode 2 launched as part of The Orange Box six years ago, Valve has created two new franchises and launched sequels to them both – the Portal series and the Left 4 Dead franchise. 

If it is true, and Valve are finally starting to lift the lid on Half-Life 3, then rest assured there will be a tricky marketing campaign full of secrets and enigmas to uncover in the run-up to release.

What do you think? Are we on the verge of some information? Or are we miles off yet? 

Let us know what you think in the comments below.