Half-Life 3 Almost Complete, Expected to be Revealed in 2025
A small update to Dota 2 has kicked off talks that Half-Life 3 might finally be on its way. For years, rumors about Valve working on Half-Life 3 have circulated, often more as jokes than serious discussions. However, interest has surged in late 2024, and some of this speculation now feels more convincing.
Much of the speculation comes from “datamining,” a process where people dig into the game code of other Valve titles. They’ve discovered files linked to a project called HLX, along with claims that a new Half-Life game has been playtested recently. Tyler McVicker, a YouTuber who has been promoting the idea that Half-Life 3 is real, thinks that these datamine findings might hint at an official announcement later this year.
It’s important to keep in mind that Valve has canceled more projects than it has actually released, including several versions of Half-Life 3. While McVicker is optimistic that this new version is safe from the same fate, it’s wise not to get too excited until we actually see the game on our devices.
In his latest video, McVicker pointed out that whenever Valve takes a break for Christmas, many projects that were being developed often get dropped when the team returns. He referenced Left 4 Dead 3 as an example of this. He also mentioned how Valve tends to rethink or abandon projects after the kind of external playtesting that HLX might have undergone. However, McVicker is confident that the latest Dota 2 update shows HLX is still active and possibly nearing completion.
He did acknowledge that the new code discovered in the updates is mainly insignificant, focusing on minor changes to the game’s graphics engine. All of Valve’s games since 2015, including Half-Life: Alyx, have utilized Source 2, their updated game engine. The changes to graphics and other optimizations, McVicker believes, are signs that Valve is wrapping up production on this game.
Overall, whatever Valve is working on – whether it’s Half-Life 3 or something else – appears to be in the final stages, and McVicker expects an announcement soon. Fans hold similar hopes, especially after Mike Shapiro, who voices the G-Man character in the series, hinted at exciting news in his New Year’s message.
When it comes to where Valve might make this announcement, many speculate that the Summer Game Fest could be the perfect occasion. Geoff Keighley, the organizer of the event, would likely be excited to host such a significant reveal. Some even speculate that there could be a surprise appearance at the Nintendo Direct event in April, especially with the new mouse controller functionality that could appeal to Valve. That said, Valve has historically shown little interest in supporting Nintendo platforms. The Switch has really taken off compared to Valve’s own Steam Deck, and the success of Steam may lead them to keep Half-Life 3 exclusive to their platform for a while.
In the end, all of this is still speculation. HLX could easily turn out to be a different project under the Half-Life name. There’s also the ongoing talk about a sequel to Half-Life: Alyx, although HLX might not be related to virtual reality at all.
Fans are eager for any news while they continue to speculate on what Valve might reveal in the future.
