It has been reported that Half-Life 3 is not only in development but is also close to being completed.

      Valve

      Another day brings yet another rumor about Half-Life 3. While we usually don't need to remind everyone, we'll say it anyway: take this with caution. Tyler McVicker, as reported by Eurogamer, states that Half-Life 3 is “playable from start to finish.” He recently conducted a three-hour Q&A stream where he hinted at several aspects of the highly anticipated sequel, including the possibility of a release this summer.

      Typically, such rumors would be dismissed as mere speculation, but there have been additional hints this year that, albeit small, rekindle hope that the project might actually be in progress. In early January, the original voice actor for G-Man from Half-Life 2 tweeted cryptically about an “unexpected surprise” set for 2025.

      After this, fans noticed that Valve had two games categorized as Upcoming Releases on Steam, although only one was visible. Since then, code references to something named HLX have been discovered, which many believe to be the codename for Half-Life 3.

      McVicker clarified that the new game is not intended for VR. He noted, “HLX is undergoing extensive and frequent playtesting, leading to individuals sharing information.” He mentioned that he has received story details from “trustworthy sources,” and while he refrains from divulging specifics, he asserts that “there is information out there regarding the plot.”

      He stated that Valve is “optimizing and refining” the game, suggesting it is “likely content-locked; if not, then mechanics-locked.” In other words, if McVicker's claims are accurate, Half-Life 3 is not merely in development — it is nearing readiness for release.

      Once again, caution is advised. Over the years, we’ve encountered countless rumors regarding Half-Life 3; indeed, its existence has become somewhat of a meme. The game was once in development but was later canceled for various reasons. While there's a possibility that Half-Life 3 may be making a return, we will hold off on excitement until Valve provides official confirmation.

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      Former Valve developer shares the backstory of the iconic Orange Box

      The Orange Box is one of the most memorable video game packages ever, containing Half-Life 2, its episodes, and two unreleased games you might know: Portal and Team Fortress 2. It became a fixture on video game store shelves for years due to the high quality of its contents and was easily identifiable thanks to its distinctive color. As implied by the name, it was bright orange. However, this was almost not the case. In a TikTok video (reported by PC Gamer), former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed that The Orange Box was nearly something much more mundane: white. Naturally, it was intended to be orange since the Half-Life series prominently features that color, but how did white enter the discussion?

      Valve developers explain why Half-Life 2: Episode 3 never materialized

      A well-known joke among gamers is that Valve struggles with the number three. It’s likely that we will never see a Half-Life 3, and the Half-Life 2 episodes ended after two. However, a recent documentary sheds light on why we never received Half-Life 2: Episode 3. In the Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Documentary, posted on YouTube last week, both former and current Valve developers delve into the history of the classic shooter. The philosophy behind the episodes that followed the main game was to "do more with less." For instance, Episode 1 featured Alyx as an active companion throughout the game, and players encountered the Hunters for the first time in Episode 2.

      New report claims Valve is not adequately addressing extremism on Steam

      According to a harsh report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Valve has failed to sufficiently moderate its Steam platform against extremism, revealing millions of instances of hateful language and imagery. The ADL examined over 458 million profiles and more than 610 million comments using an AI tool called HateVision, discovering millions of cases of white supremacist and anti-Semitic content, including posts (particularly copypastas with swastikas and slurs), keywords, and avatars, as well as thousands of profiles “that glorify violent extremists.” Pepe the Frog appeared most frequently in these posts, often depicted in Nazi attire. Steam Community profiles enable users to upload custom images, which has also become a significant source of imagery flagged by the ADL's analysis.