Will any Half-Life game count for Half-Life 3 or does it have to be called Half-Life 3 explicitly.

@YogSothoth It has to be intended as the main-series successor to Half Life 2 Episode 3

@spiderduckpig Half Life 2 Episode 3 was never released though, and Half-Life: Alyx is the latest title of the series.

None of the three properties has a verified announcement with an actual release date; the reporting is still rumors and missing dates. I put NO at 10% versus a 40% market, which looks like a premium for speculation rather than evidence.