Rumours are again swirling around Half-Life 3, the long-awaited sequel to one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. You might have seen this before — endless memes about “Half-Life 3 confirmed” — but this time, the speculation is gaining traction. Valve insider Tyler McVicker said the game is reportedly in a “playable, end-to-end” state and could be officially revealed as early as this summer. If the rumours are true, you could see it launched by the end of this year.
Trusted source hints at progress
Tyler McVicker, who has gained a reputation for sharing reliable insights about Valve, made these claims during a recent Q&A livestream. In it, he said that the game is fully playable from start to finish. While he didn’t provide any direct evidence or gameplay footage, he suggested this level of progress might mean Valve is preparing for a formal announcement soon.
This isn’t the only recent hint at movement on the project. In March, Valve concept artist Evgeniy Evstratiy mentioned during an appearance on the CG Voices Podcast that he had been “in the room where Valve made Half-Life 3.” Although vague, the comment fueled the fire, especially from someone inside the company.
Also in March, another well-known Valve leaker, Gabe Follower, claimed that Half-Life 3 would mark the “end of Gordon’s adventure.” That’s led fans to believe the new title may finally offer closure to the cliffhanger that’s haunted players since Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
Code clues spark fan theories
In addition to these insider statements, some digital sleuths have spotted interesting clues in Valve’s recent game updates. References to “HLX” — which many believe is the codename for Half-Life 3 — have appeared in new code added to Deadlock and Dota 2. While Valve hasn’t confirmed what HLX stands for, many fans see it as a clear nod to the next Half-Life project.
During his live stream, McVicker also mentioned that this game won’t be another virtual reality experience like Half-Life: Alyx. Instead, it appears to be designed as a traditional single-player game with new features. According to him, it will include procedural generation elements. However, these aren’t related to terrain or roguelike gameplay, leaving fans wondering how they’ll be used.
Still no official word from Valve
Despite the growing number of hints and leaks, Valve has not made any official announcements. This silence isn’t unusual — Valve is known for keeping things under wraps until they’re ready to go public. Even so, with Half-Life 2 having celebrated its 20th anniversary recently, fans are growing more eager for a sequel than ever before.
While nothing is certain, there’s more reason to hope now than in recent years. Whether or not Valve delivers this year remains to be seen, but the signs point in a hopeful direction. Until then, you’ll have to wait and keep your crowbar ready.
