Coming back to (Half-)Life.
Image credit: Valve
Fans believe they’ve uncovered a possible timeframe for when we may finally learn about Half-Life 3.
We already had strong evidence - if, admittedly, no specific confirmation - that Valve is working on a major new Half-Life project of some kind. After a trustworthy report last summer detailed datamined assets, backing up a leak from an actor likely involved, we were then told the new Half-Life project, codenamed HLX, was not just in development [but was now “playable, end-to-end”](https://www.eurogamer.net/half-life…
Coming back to (Half-)Life.
Image credit: Valve
Fans believe they’ve uncovered a possible timeframe for when we may finally learn about Half-Life 3.
We already had strong evidence - if, admittedly, no specific confirmation - that Valve is working on a major new Half-Life project of some kind. After a trustworthy report last summer detailed datamined assets, backing up a leak from an actor likely involved, we were then told the new Half-Life project, codenamed HLX, was not just in development but was now “playable, end-to-end”.
HLX Development Might Have Hit a New Stage - HLX Files #15.Watch on YouTube
And now, Redditor sameseksure believes they’ve worked out when an announcement may be coming simply by analysing the Steam store’s top banner.
“Valve uses the top banner on the front page of the Steam Store whenever they want to promote a Steam Sale, Steam Event, or new products like games or hardware,” the user reasoned. “Whatever’s on the front page of Steam gets a HUGE amount of exposure. They put Half-Life: Alyx on the front page banner immediately after the announcement back in 2019, as well as the Valve Index when it was announced. When there’s a Steam Sale or Event, it takes up the top banner for the whole duration of those events (Summer Sale, Next Fest, etc.).
“Therefore, they will not announce anything at the same time as major Steam Events are happening, as they would be cannibalising their own sales,” they added (emphasis theirs). “They’d rather reschedule stuff to ensure they’re not cannibalising themselves.”
They then linked to a list of scheduled Steam events for the rest of the year, pointing out an unusually large gap between 18th November and 8th December.
“This could mean that Valve plans to announce Half-Life 3 (or Deckard, or both) on 18 November, and made sure no other Steam Events were happening at that time,” they added.
A stretch? Maybe. But it’s one of the most plausible explanations yet, not least because Steam moved its Autumn Sale ahead by two months to September, even though it usually happens in November, and in the Autumn Sale announcement, Steam teased: “‘Is Steam crazy? They’re two months ahead of schedule!’ Yes, we are crazy, and yes we are earlier than usual, but also that’s intentional’” (again, poster’s own emphasis).
“So if it’s happening in November, it’ll be 18/19/20 November,” the Redditor concluded (thanks, TheGamer). “Or never.”
All this also reinforces Valve insider Tyler McVicker’s claim that the eagerly anticipated sequel could release before the end of 2025.
The rationale has convinced even the most sceptical of Half-Life fans, generating thousands of upvotes from fans impressed by the caculation, and desperating hoping they’re right. Time will tell.
What we do know for sure is Half-Life 3 was in development 2013/2014, and was set to be a procedurally-generated, replayable game that fused Left 4 Dead-inspired gameplay with scripted story moments. It was cancelled because it was built on the unfinished Source 2 engine.
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