The "Left 4 Dead" series began back in 2008, and a sequel immediately launched soon after. However, just like "Half-Life 3," Valve has pushed the franchise back, and no official word has been released regarding a possible launch of "Left 4 Dead 3," indicating that the game and the series may be dead.
According to Game N Guide, Valve has been silent regarding any potential future for the franchise, and the latest update they have offered was adding the existing games to the Xbox One backward compatibility program, allowing gamers to play Xbox 360 games on their Xbox One.
It is noted that Valve has not been actively developing video games for a long time. The company has relied strongly on existing titles that continue to receive minor updates such as "DOTA 2." The company is also focusing on their other endeavors, like the "Steam" platform and the HTC Vive, their take on VR gaming.
Because of this fans are speculating that no one in Valve is actively working on "Half-Life 3" and "Left 4 Dead 3," indicating that the franchises are considered dead at this point. It would not make sense for Valve to invest millions to make a game that may not earn much when they can earn so much more just with Steam.
However, PC Gamer points out that several leaks do indicate that the game is indeed in the works. Back in June, a Valve employee was giving a presentation for the "Destination" platform Valve is introducing. During the presentation, a folder labeled "Left 4 Dead 3" is visible, indicating that there are employees working on it.
Valve has yet to confirm or deny if the folder is indeed proof that the game is being made and that it may launch next year, or if it was just intentionally left there to troll fans looking for an update. At the time of writing, Valve has continued to ignore the leak.
