New IP In the Half-Life Universe
Let’s start with one of the most intriguing answers. During the AMA, Newell was asked whether there was any chance of a new IP taking place in the shared Half-Life/Portal universe. His response was a simple “Yep,” which of course has sent the internet into complete meltdown.
A new perspective on this dystopian world would be a great way to bring back Valve as a single-player developer without the incredible weight of hype for the notorious third installment that fans are waiting for. They could venture into new ground in the world they’ve already established, and ease us back into Gordon Freeman’s shoes. Perhaps they could incorporate some of their experimental VR technology too, without disappointing fans by tacking it on to an essential part of the story.
Newell mentioned in another question how he was interested in brain-computer interfaces and A.I. Whilst I’m not holding out hope for a GLaDOS you can plug into your cortex, it will be interesting to see how Valve adapts this burgeoning technology into their new experiences in the future.