Half-Life 3' release date, latest news, rumors: Fans who are campaigning for new sequel nominate 'Half-Life 2' for a Steam Award

More than a decade passed since the release of "Half-Life 2" back in 2004, but the possibility of a third installment in the "Half-Life" series remains to be a dream for most avid fans of the first-person shooter video game. And so, they have taken desperate measures for the slightest chance to make "Half-Life 3" happen by nominating "Half-Life 2" for a category in the Steam Awards.

The Steam Awards was recently introduced, and its award nomination system has a unique stage in which voters can propose a category name they want games to be nominated in. Many names were suggested, but what caught the attention of many gaming fans was the award category recommended by Reddit user GruffBarbarian.

The Reddit user had suggested the "Game That Deserves a Sequel" award, and gaming fans began voting for "Half-Life 2" as a deserving nominee. As reported by Game N Guide, the category already gathered more than 6,000 votes, and the number is still increasing.

Despite the buzz and online attention this campaign has been enjoying, game publisher Valve continues to remain mum and evasive on the issue of whether or not there will ever be a third "Half-Life" video game.

As many fans still recall, "Half-Life 2" is a single-player first-person shooter video game that is divided into several chapters, in which the player is permanently cast into the role of the protagonist Gordon Freeman.

The game was so well-received that it spawned expansions and mini-sequels over the years such as "Half-Life 2: Episode 1" and "Half-Life 2: Episode 2." And after plans of making "Half-Life 2: Episode 3" were shelved, gamers were expectant that Valve would finally move forward with an additional installment to the entire series by developing "Half-Life 3."

At present, Valve is still reportedly engrossed with the development of "Left 4 Dead 3" which is expected to be launched sometime in 2017. Realistically, this could mean "Half-Life 3" will not be happening anytime soon. However, that does not completely dispel the possibility of a third installment in the later future.