Half-Life 3 is allegedly being playtested at Valve – please don’t give me hope

by

The extended wait for Half-Life 3 from Valve has become so protracted that what was once a humorous meme has evolved into something more melancholic. However, reliable Valve dataminer and leaker GabeFollower assertively declares that the eagerly anticipated third installment is not just in production, but actively undergoing playtesting.

GabeFollower, a source who has previously shared details about Team Fortress 2 Classic and the pre-release game Deadlock, now claims that the game is not just in testing phase, but is also very close to completion in its development process.

Valve is playtesting Half-Life 3

As per GabeFollower’s findings, it appears that files and code snippets stored on Valve’s servers correspond to a game internally dubbed “HLX”. These files are located within directories named “hlx”, “hlxaudio”, and “hlxartists”. It is reported that optimization passes have been uncovered within these folders.

According to the source, they allege that there’s ongoing development on features such as a responsive hair system for more authentic visuals, flexible prop models for better realism, navigational grids, intricate NPC interactions, and sophisticated artificial intelligence for enemies.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that the leaker uncovered hints about a zombified gorilla adversary, which was subtly suggested in Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx. At the moment of this writing, other enemies like Combine soldiers haven’t been brought up yet.

Well, as a gaming enthusiast myself, I can’t help but get excited about rumors swirling around Half-Life 3. However, just because it’s in the testing phase now doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to hit the shelves anytime soon. Testing is all about refining and sometimes making significant changes, especially given the high stakes of a sequel like this one. Valve, being the meticulous developers they are, won’t want to rush things and potentially make any errors, so we just have to be patient and keep our fingers crossed!

It’s speculation at this point, but there’s a possibility that Half-Life 3 might be compatible with Valve’s Steam Deck. Given the intensive nature of the upcoming game, the adaptability of Valve’s Source 2 Game Engine could potentially allow for play on the handheld device, albeit at lower settings.

To delve deeper into Half-Life, explore the story behind Valve needing to pressure publisher Sierra On-Line for continued financing of the initial game. Furthermore, don’t miss our take on the visually stunning, next-generation RTX overhaul of its sequel.

Read More

2025-03-26 18:10