At this point, Half-Life 3 must be one of the industry’s worst kept secrets. This time, the rumours say that the alleged codename for Half-Life 3 - HLX- can be found plastered all over the datamined code of another Valve title. But, this time, it goes a little beyond your typical rumours.
Honestly, this is the only game that I think could give GTA 6 a run for its money in terms of hype levels. November 2004 was the last time we got a mainline Half Life game, unless you’re counting the VR title Half-Life: Alyx that released 23 March 2020.
It’s been over two decades of memes, prayers and copium - I mean hope. While some players like to joke that Alyx was actually Half-Life 3, we all know it wasn’t. Be real.
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What’s the Latest Half-Life 3 ‘Proof’?
Creator and notorious Valve leaker Gabe Follower posted on X / Twitter that they’d found evidence of ‘HLX’ in the latest Deadlock update.
If you’ve not heard of it, Deadlock is Valve’s latest game - a third-person 6v6 MOBA shooter. This definitely isn’t Half-Life 3, but I’m still very interested in it.
While an official release date remains elusive, early invite-only development clips are already circulating online. I think it looks pretty sick, check out some gameplay here.
Honestly, I imagine we won't get a concrete update on Deadlock’s release until the headlines move on from Valve’s recent Steam Machine price hikes. Once the dust settles, I’m thinking we’ll get a full public release in mid-2027.
I’m interested in Deadlock for another reason though. A recent update seems to mention that HLX Half-Life 3 codename.
In reply to the post, Gabe Follower added: "It's not that interesting by itself but just another confirmation that HLX survived Valve's winter break."
What Could it Mean?
Well honestly, perhaps not much. Perhaps everything. It seems to suggest, to me, that Valve could be reusing assets from the development of Half-Life 3 in Deadlock, and perhaps the other way round too. If true, that confirms that Half-Life 3 is in the works at Valve.
With over two decades of hype, it would make sense to me that Half-Life 3, if it exists, will release as a Steam Machine exclusive. In fact, that's yet another leak. What a way to shift consoles, right?
Driven delirious by the wait, the fans on Reddit over r/HalfLife grow ever more inpatient.
One said: “That means that HL3 is ready and in final stages of final polishing. It’s basically playable. In fact it's already released but only the chosen ones can play it.
Yes, it's all in this lines of code. /s”
If only. Over on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours, one user said: "I'm still gonna be hyped when it gets announced but at this point it's like... F*** man just announce it already, I've been reading leaks for two years and already waited well over a decade to get here."
Another commented: "Cool... When's the announcement."
I have to point out - this datamine hasn’t been officially confirmed by Valve. Half-Life 3 has not been announced - trust me, you’d hear about it if (when) it is.
Honestly though, forget the Half-Life 3 announcement. Give me Portal 3. Let me play as human GLaDOS - Caroline - in the 1980s as Cave Johnson first starts to use Aperture to achieve immortality. How awesome would that be?