Valve’s Gabe Newell certainly knows a thing or two about making some of the most beloved games of all time, and offered up some free advice as part of a 25th anniversary documentary about the making of the original Half-Life.
Half-Life was originally slated to be released in November of 1997. But it became clear to the development team the game wasn’t ready, with one developer comparing the work-in-progress title to “a quick knockoff” and a “cash-grab.” The game simply hadn’t come together into a more cohesive whole.
With just three months left to go before release, Valve made the decision to delay the game. It would eventually release a year later in November 1998. Newell in the documentary elaborated on the decision with some concise words of wisdom.