Source: UK game-news Web site Computer & Video Games.

　　What we heard: Back in July, Valve Software CEO Gabe Newell made a surprise appearance at Electronic Arts' Summer Showcase. He was there to help unveil several new games that EA would distribute: the dimension-hopping shooter Portal, the resurrected Team Fortress 2, and the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

　　At the time, Valve said all the new games would go on sale alongside the PC version of Half-Life 2: Episode Two in the fourth quarter of 2006. That didn't last long, though. Just over a month later, Valve's director of marketing, Doug Lombardi, revealed that all versions of Episode Two would now launch in the first quarter of 2007. "It's just sort of classic Valve being overly aggressive on our dates," Lombardi told the Eurogamer Web site, a delay that he later confirmed himself.

　　Now, it appears that the game's release has slipped yet again. According to Computer & Video Games, Lombardi now says Valve is "now targeting summer 2007" for the release of Episode Two, which comes with Team Fortress 2 and Portal. (The PS3 and 360 versions of the game also include the original Half-Life 2 and Episode One.) No reason was given for the delay, but knowing Valve's perfectionism--and history of missing deadlines--it wasn't entirely unexpected.

　　The official story: Lombardi, who seems to spend a lot of time in Europe these days, proved too elusive to be asked for comment.

　　Bogus or not bogus?: C&VG is usually pretty solid, so this looks not bogus. Also, don't be surprised if Episode Two ends up on many gamers' 2007 holiday shopping lists.