The Whispers of Half-Life 3 Grow Louder
Half-Life 3, arguably the most enduring myth in the gaming world, has once again rocketed to the top of the conversation in November 2025. A confluence of technical leaks, cryptic comments from trusted industry insiders, and a surprise hardware reveal from Valve has sent the community into a frenzy, oscillating between unbridled hope and familiar disappointment.
The developments have unfolded with a rare intensity, each day building on the last. We’ve prepared a chronological breakdown of the recent events that have reignited the decades-long vigil for Half-Life 3.
Before the Storm: The “HLX” Leaks
The November hype storm didn’t appear out of thin air; it was built on a foundation of technical evidence gathered throughout 2025.
- Throughout the year, dataminers found traces of a project codenamed “HLX” within updates for DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike 2. The CS2 update on October 15, 2025, was particularly crucial. Miners uncovered references to Half-Life 2 mechanics like “Thumpers” and advanced physics engine strings such as “fluid drag.” This was widely interpreted to mean that “Project HLX” was in its final “polishing” stage of development.
- Building on these technical leaks, the “November 18th Theory” emerged on Reddit around November 7-8. This theory was based on an intentionally vacant spot in Valve’s official Steam event calendar, which also coincided with the anniversary week of Half-Life: Alyx’s announcement.
The Rumor Storm
The ecosystem of speculation reached its zenith during the week of November 11th, fueled by tantalizing hints from reliable sources.
- November 11: Shpeshal_Nick
Industry insider Shpeshal_Nick fanned the flames with a tweet on November 11th:"If* what I was just DMd is actually true (big if), next week GTA 6 could actually have it's thunder stolen on the hype scale lmao"
- November 12 (Morning): Moore’s Law Is Dead
This was quickly followed by a hint from the tech-focused source Moore’s Law Is Dead:"If you're a fan of @valvesoftware, check the news in around 16 hours..."
- November 12 (Afternoon): Valve’s Big Announcement With all eyes expecting Half-Life 3, Valve made its grand reveal on November 12th. It wasn’t a game, but a new hardware trifecta slated for a 2026 release: the next-generation Steam Machine, the standalone Steam Frame VR headset, and a new Steam Controller.
Fueling the Fire
Furthermore, a detail in the Steam Machine promotional video, released by Valve on November 12th, did not escape the community’s eagle eyes. Stickers adorned the new Steam Machine, bearing the words “SOON™,” “H,” and “CENS(ORED).” A censored letter “H” was immediately interpreted as a deliberate, if playful, nod to Half-Life.
Expectations and Renewed Hope
The initial 24 hours of disappointment quickly gave way to a new, more compelling theory: this powerful new hardware needs a “killer app.” Just as Half-Life: Alyx drove sales for the Valve Index VR headset, many now believe “HLX” is destined to be the flagship launch title for the new Steam Frame and Steam Machine.
Developments supporting this new narrative followed swiftly:
- November 13: Mike Straw
Mike Straw of Insider Gaming suggested on November 13th that the hardware reveal wasn’t the end of the story:"BTW, Valve isn't done with the big announcements. Soon enough there's going to be something else"
- November 13: The “Secret” Steam Game On the same day, users discovered that Valve’s official Steam developer page listed two upcoming titles. One is the known-from-leaks shooter Deadlock, while the other remains a complete mystery. Speculation is rampant that this is the placeholder for Half-Life 3.
- November 14: GabeFollower
Known Valve insider GabeFollower stood by his claims on November 14th:"Valve insider GabeFollower says according to their info Valve is still aiming to release Half Life 3 this year."
Current Status: All Eyes on November 19th
As it stands, the community has now pinned its hopes on November 19th—the anniversary of the original Half-Life’s release.
The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. We will be watching closely and will bring you any news as it breaks. Stay tuned.