In case you didn't hear, Portal 2, one of the most anticipated games of the year, released last week. The game not only had more of the great puzzle-focused intricate levels that we all love, but it also featured a separate, standalone co-op mode. The addition was certainly well-received, which isn't surprising, as co-op and multiplayer additions to games seem to be a common theme now. Valve has realized this, and has decided to focus more and more on multiplayer in the future, reportedly to the point where they may drop single-player only games.

Valve is certainly no stranger to multiplayer, as they have produced many successful games with the feature as the focus in the past. In addition to Portal 2's co-op, the Left 4 Dead series made running through swarms of zombies with your friends one of the most fun ways to kill time. Valve is still showing support for Team Fortress 2, a game that's been out for almost four years now and you've probably heard of Counter-Strike.

According to Valve founder Gabe Newell, that may be the case. He said that Portal 2 will probably be their last game "with an isolated single-player experience." What exactly this means is something even Newell himself is a bit unsure of, but it certainly raises a bit of controversy and confusion. While all of the aforementioned games focus on the multiplayer aspect, this does raise some questions about the series that put Valve on the map, Half-Life.

While there have been some hints that the next instalment in the franchise could be on the way, this recent announcement may put that into question. Half-Life was always single-player focused, so could this dispel the rumors and mean the franchise is done? No. It's more likely that this means the next Half-Life game, whenever it arrives, will have a multiplayer feature as well. Whether that be through co-op and giving Gordon Freeman a partner or by adding a competitive multiplayer mode, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise to see one or the other (or both) added for Half-Life 2: Episode 3 or Half-Life 3 should Valve skip the episodic title.

What are your thoughts on this? What does this mean for future Valve games? Is there a new, multiplayer Half-Life on the way?

Leave any comments you may have below.

Source: Kotaku