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Why Half-Life 3 speculation is reaching a fever pitch again (arstechnica.com)

submitted 6 days ago by ptz@dubvee.org to c/games@lemmy.world

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The more than two decades since Half-Life 2's release have been filled with plenty of rumors and hints about Half-Life 3, ranging from the official-ish to the thin to the downright misleading. As we head into 2025, though, we're approaching something close to a critical mass of rumors and leaks suggesting that Half-Life 3 is really in the works this time, and could be officially announced in the coming months.

The latest tease came just before the end of 2024 via a New Year's Eve social media video from G-Man voice actor Mike Shapiro. In the voice of the mysterious in-game bureaucrat, Shapiro expresses hopes that "the next quarter century [will] deliver as many unexpected surprises as did the millennium's first (emphasis added)... See you in the new year."

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On its own, a single in-character post from a voice actor would probably be a bit too cryptic to excite Half-Life fans who have seen their sequel hopes dashed so often over the last two decades. But the unexpected tease comes amid a wave of leaks and rumors surrounding "HLX," an internal Valve project that has been referenced in a number of other Source 2 engine game files recently.

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[-] ptz@dubvee.org 11 points 6 days ago

I never bought into VR and couldn't / still can't play Alyx so I'm very excited if this is real since the article calls it out as a non-VR game.

[-] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 18 points 6 days ago

There's no way to make a Half-Life 3 without acknowledging at least one big moment in Alyx, perhaps even in a reveal trailer. If you can borrow it from someone, I'd recommend it. If there's something physically stopping you from playing it for some reason, I'd recommend at least checking out the ending, pre- and post-credits, on YouTube.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 8 points 6 days ago

I don't have VR gear,and basically have no desire to buy into it. I have read the synopsis of each chapter on TV Tropes, though, so I'm at least familiar with the story. I may also see if I can find a "Let's play" video and watch through that.

Spoiler

About how Alyx traded places with Gordon so G-Man would save Eli's life at the end of HL2:E2, I assume is what you're referring to.

[-] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

That spoiler is what I'm referring to. If you only read about it, I think the delivery of it is worth seeing. Obviously it's better to participate in it yourself, but I appreciate the way the dialogue is specifically written and delivered to almost break the fourth wall.

[-] Grass@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 days ago

IIRC there is a non vr mod for the game, but no idea how enjoyable it would be

[-] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

Having played the game in VR, I think what feels like an appropriate scale for a firefight in VR would feel underwhelming and small in non-VR.

[-] frezik@midwest.social 3 points 6 days ago

Agreed. They really limit how many enemies you face at once in that game. Any more would be unplayably difficult.

[-] vividspecter@lemm.ee 1 points 5 days ago

As a beginner? Sure, but having played the HL2 VR mod you get used to it, and it has left me wishing Alyx was a bit more challenging.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 3 points 6 days ago

Yeah, I recall hearing about that a good while back, but like you said, dunno how enjoyable it would be. From my understanding, much of the game mechanics are designed for VR.