2024: The year Half-Life 3's development gained serious traction. This summer, data miner Gabe Follower revealed intriguing details suggesting a departure from previous Half-Life titles, hinting at innovative gravity mechanics and an extensive Xen environment.
Recently, Follower released an update video confirming Half-Life 3 has entered internal testing at Valve. This crucial phase determines the game's fate, with cancellation a possibility depending on the test results.
However, several factors strongly suggest Half-Life 3's imminent release. The recent large-scale Half-Life 2 documentary and anniversary update strongly imply future plans for the franchise. Furthermore, each Half-Life installment has been groundbreaking, setting a precedent for innovation.
Valve's past strategy, as seen with Half-Life: Alyx and its accompanying VR headset promotion, points to a potential broader gaming ecosystem strategy. Speculation suggests a possible "Steam Machines 2" launch, rivaling PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. Coupling this hardware release with Half-Life 3 would create a monumental event – something Valve is known to relish.
The release of a new Half-Life title feels like a matter of prestige for Valve. Considering Team Fortress 2's conclusion via a comic, a similar (albeit delayed) send-off for their flagship franchise seems plausible.
