ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈɛn, nˈuːɛl spˈoʊk ʌv "bɹˈɔːdənɪŋ ðɪ ɪmˈoʊʃənəl pˈælət" ʌvðə hˈæflˈaɪf sˈɪɹiz, ænd sˈɛd ðə nˈɛkst ɡˈeɪm mˈeɪ ɹᵻtˈɜːn tuː "dʒˈɛnjuːɪnli skˈɛɹɪŋ ðə plˈeɪɚ".
In March 2010, Newell spoke of "broadening the emotional palette" of the Half-Life series, and said the next game may return to "genuinely scaring the player".