"Left 4 Dead 3" is one of those games that fans have been waiting for endlessly despite the fact that it has not even been announced yet and it's still unclear if such a thing will ever happen.

The game has been the subject of endless speculation over the years, and the chatter hasn't really died down even though the bulk of new information about it has mainly stemmed from rumors.

For instance, a rumor from earlier this year coming courtesy of Express UK suggested that the multiplayer title had been given a 2017 release date.

Whether or not the 2017 release date is accurate is still largely unknown at this point, but it's worth noting that Valve has yet again refrained from saying anything that would be indicative one way or another.

The rumor adds that the new game will yet again feature four lead protagonists upon being released.

Lastly, the rumor also suggests that "Left 4 Dead 3" has now leapfrogged "Half Life 3" on Valve's priority list.

For those who want to believe that the zombie game is coming soon, rumors such as that have to provide at least a shred of hope that Valve hasn't completely abandoned the title.

There are also other indicators which fans have uncovered that also seemingly hint that Valve still has something in the works related to the "Left 4 Dead" franchise.

Back in February, a new piece of VR-related software released by Valve caused a bit of a stir when it was discovered to contain files that were related to "Left 4 Dead 3" and "Half Life 3."

The tool in question is the SteamVR Performance Test and the YouTube channel "Valve News Network" even published a video that aimed to explain the significance of the supposedly leaked files that were included in the software.

Unfortunately, while the files may hint at the potential existence of the games, the lack of any confirmation or even acknowledgement from Valve still puts the fate of both titles in question.

At this point, expecting Valve to announce "Left 4 Dead 3" anytime soon is probably more optimistic than realistic given the lack of official information, but unless the franchise is declared dead, fans will continue to hope that the next installment is waiting in the wings.