Seventeen years after Half-Life 2 Episode 2 was released, Valve could finally be giving us a Half-Life 3. According to one source, the game is currently being playtested, and we could see an official reveal in 2025.
Before the release of Half-Life: Alyx, many Gordon Freeman fans had given up hope of ever getting a Half-Life 3, and that they’d forever be left with Half-Life 2: Episode 2’s cliffhanger. But the VR-exclusive Half-Life: Alyx proved that developer Valve hadn’t completely forgotten about one of the best FPSs of all time. And now, it looks as if Half-Life 3 could really be happening.
It’s not that the concept is just being batted around at Valve HQ, either. According to a Valve insider, Half-Life 3 is well into development and actively being playtested. That news comes from YouTuber Gabe Follower, who has been datamining (poking around in the files of other Valve games) in an effort to uncover more about Half-Life 3.
Gabe Follower claims that a Valve insider advised them that Half-Life 3 is being actively playtested, not just internally but by friends and family of Valve’s teams. And while it’s not cast-iron proof, they also point out that, according to Linkedin, Valve has recruited several new developers, including some ex-staffers who have worked on Half-Life and Left 4 Dead.
Gabe Follower does have a pretty good track record when it comes to leaks. Through datamining, they revealed details of one of CounterStrike 2’s major update, including the news that weapon keychains would be added to the game. They also leaked details of Valve’s online shooter Deadlock.
There was another leak earlier this year, from a voice actor who was attached to a ‘Project White Sands’, which the actor listed as a Valve production. The actor quickly removed any mention of it from their site, but it added more fuel to the Half-Life 3 fire.
There was going to be a Half-Life 2: Episode 3, but it was ultimately cancelled. You can get a taste of what could have been, however, thanks to Half-Life fan-game Project Borealis.
For now, we’ll have to wait, fingers crossed, for Valve to finally reveal Half-Life 3’s existence. In the meantime, for tales that do have endings, take a look at the best story games and the best PC games.
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