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The untapped potential of the canceled Half-Life spinoff, officially named Ravenholm, is something fans might never fully experience. This extra episode was envisaged as another captivating follow-up to Half-Life 2. According to Raphaël Colantonio, the founder of Arkane Studios, Ravenholm possessed the qualities to become something truly magnificent. However, it couldn’t thrive under the high-paced business strategy imposed by Valve.
In a heartfelt discussion on the Quad Damage Podcast, Colantonio revealed, “We needed another year – at least six months.” He added that Valve envisioned a very specific business approach for these episodes, but internal challenges, such as high costs, thwarted their success.
Colantonio has echoed these truths across various platforms, including a 2020 documentary about Arkane’s journey. He discussed how Ravenholm, under development until 2007, demanded yet another year—or perhaps less—with appropriate funding.
During the conversation on Quad Damage, Colantonio explained that Valve allocated just “12 months” to Arkane. “Twelve months to build anything is really, really hard,” Colantonio emphasized. Despite these constraints, they managed to craft a playable alpha. The game boasted a complete structure and delivered polished cinematic elements, earning Valve’s admiration. “The game was great, frankly,” Colantonio commented, confident that Valve’s team would agree.
Colantonio elaborated that to meet expectations, an additional six months were necessary, yet this didn’t align with Valve’s business plans. Despite its cancellation, Ravenholm remains a beloved element of Arkane’s legacy. Colantonio shared, “For us, it was still great” to have worked on Ravenholm. Each new team member was welcomed with the unique experience of playtesting the game.
The Ravenholm experience had a lasting impact, with Colantonio describing it as a “nice bonding experience” for all involved. Reflecting on his future aspirations, the founder mentioned, “I could see myself working on Dishonored 3 right now,” despite previously feeling that crafting sequels was “the last thing I wanted to do.”
Ravenholm may have never hit shelves, but it lives on in the hearts of its creators and those at Arkane Studios, symbolic of what might have been this chapter in the gaming universe.