Hello there, you are on the Internet. Assuming this is not your first time ever diving into this brave, wacky experiment that’s been a cornerstone of human society for the past 15 years, you are almost certainly aware of two things: 1) Porn. 2) A screenshot of an alleged Valve change log that recently leaked, more or less revealing the existence of Left 4 Dead 3 and Source Engine 2. I decided to get in touch with a few sources (hah, I guess) close to Valve for verification and a few scant details.

First up, the most important detail: yes, the image – which references L4D3 and Source 2 in multiple subject lines – is 100 percent real. Multiple sources, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed as much. For the moment, at least, it’s probably safe to assume that both are in development.

More interestingly, one source also pointed to another, slightly less-publicized email leak from a couple months ago that referenced Left 4 Dead 3 (with nearly 70 developers to its name), Source 2, and Half-Life 3, in addition to smaller scale mystery projects like “Cries Unheard” and “Microbe Wars”. The source declined to comment any further, but specifically pointed to it as something else well worth looking at. It should be noted, however, that the leak in question referenced some outdated information – including employees who had since departed from the shadowy mega-studio.

Contrasting that to an extent, further rumblings – verified by multiple sources but not really elaborated upon because Valve – suggest an internal feeling of change in recent times due to the success of potentially un-ending mainstay games like Valve’s own DOTA 2 and League of Legends. Perhaps expect fewer short-lived, more traditional games out of the gated Newelltopia, but note that I am only speculating about what might happen as a result of Valve’s apparent change in direction.

I’ve requested official comment from Valve, but heard nothing back so far. I’ll update this story if I do.

So there’s all I have at the moment. I plan to dig more, but even sources willing to speak were pretty tight-lipped, mostly preferring to nod yes or no to tiny tidbits from the Internet/other sources. If I find out anything else, you’ll hear about it. Well, assuming Valve’s infamous secret-keeping squads aren’t out for my head right this very secon–