fˈɪl ˈɪwənˌɪk ʌv pˌiːsˈiː ɡˈeɪmz ˈɛn ɹˈoʊt ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛnti wˈʌn ðætðə kˌænsɪlˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈɛpɪsˌoʊd θɹˈiː mˌeɪhɐv bˈɛnɪfˌɪɾᵻd ðə lˈɛɡəsi ʌv hˈæflˈaɪf tˈuː, sˈaɪɾɪŋ ðə lˈæk ʌv kˈʌltʃɚɹəl ˈɪmpækt ʌv ˈælɪks ænd ðə "mˈɪstɚɹi, spˌɛkjʊlˈeɪʃən ænd mˈɛləŋkˌɑːli" əvən ʌnfˈɪnɪʃt sˈiːkwəl.
Phil Iwaunik of PCGamesN wrote in 2021 that the cancelation of Episode Three may have benefited the legacy of Half-Life 2, citing the lack of cultural impact of Alyx and the "mystery, speculation and melancholy" of an unfinished sequel.