Evidence mounts for Half-Life 3 development in Counter-Strike 2 code update

[Daniel Sims]

Wishful thinking: Although Valve has not acknowledged that it is working on Half-Life 3, years of data mining have uncovered a growing body of evidence suggesting that it is not only in development but nearly complete. The theory is highly speculative, so keep a grain of salt handy, but if it pans out, Valve might be the best developer in history at keeping a secret.

Prominent Valve leaker Tyler has been tracking Valve's public codebase updates since 2017 and noted that August 2025 saw the most weekly activity from the company in around a decade. He recently extracted more data from Valve game patches, pointing to the possible development of a new Half-Life game, presumably Half-Life 3. Based on recent activity, he speculates that Valve could release the project within a year.

For over a year, McVicker has shared snippets of code found in updates for Counter-Strike 2, DOTA 2, and Deadlock that reference gameplay elements either absent from those titles or directly tied to the Half-Life franchise. The code indicates that a project codenamed "HLX" will feature procedural level alteration, ray tracing, and AMD FSR. It will also not be a VR game, like a Half-Life: Alex follow-up.

A recent Counter-Strike 2 update contains conspicuous code that hints at Half-Life connections. Some lines reference enemy AI, which shouldn't be relevant for the multiplayer-only shooter. There are at least two mentions of the Combine, the primary enemies from Half-Life 2. Other snippets suggest that HLX might incorporate fluid simulation, though it remains unclear whether the code refers to a gameplay mechanic, a rendering technique, or both. Additional data points reveal the project could be undergoing optimization, suggesting it is content-locked.

A potential new Half-Life project is far from the only leak from Valve in recent months. Patents, code, leaked images, and other information suggest the company is preparing to reveal at least two new hardware products, possibly within the next year. One device, codenamed "Fremont," which many speculate is a console-like companion to the Steam Deck, appeared on Geekbench in August. Valve also recently filed trademarks for a mysterious piece of hardware called "Steam Frame," which McVicker believes is the official name for an ARM-based, standalone SteamOS VR headset.

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Evidence mounts for Half-Life 3 development in Counter-Strike 2 code update

 

[GeoffreyA]

"This is the Freeman. The Combine's reckoning has come."

We're ready, Valve, and have been waiting for 18 years.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

I'm not going to hold my breath just yet. HLX could be anything Half-Life related that isn't HL3. I'll believe it when I see it, and when I see it, I'll need to change my shorts.

 

[GeoffreyA]

I'm not going to hold my breath just yet. HLX could be anything Half-Life related that isn't HL3. I'll believe it when I see it, and when I see it, I'll need to change my shorts.

The best strategy is: don't think about it. I'll jump for joy if this November, the crowbar comes.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

The best strategy is: don't think about it. I'll jump for joy if this November, the crowbar comes.

Indeed! I have recently played through HL, HL2, and both HL2 episodes. I was recently itching to play Blue Shift and maybe Opposing Force--I really enjoyed those back in the day, despite what others thought.

 

[amstech]

Nova Prospect in HL2 with an RTX GPU is sexy!

 

[Megalomaniac]

Half Life Alyx is proof in and of itself that Half Life 3 is coming soon.

After the Orange Box brought Half Life and Portal to the masses I have to imagine they want to make as huge a drop as possible. I just hope we get Half Life 3, Counterstrike 3 and Portal 3.

 

[GeoffreyA]

Indeed! I have recently played through HL, HL2, and both HL2 episodes. I was recently itching to play Blue Shift and maybe Opposing Force--I really enjoyed those back in the day, despite what others thought.

I missed Blue Shift and Opposing Force but played all the main titles: the last time, over a decade ago, when I tackled Episode 1 and 2. But occasionally, HL2 gets a few minutes for testing purposes. After the ending of Episode 2, I'm ready to see what happens next.

Half Life Alyx is proof in and of itself that Half Life 3 is coming soon.

After the Orange Box brought Half Life and Portal to the masses I have to imagine they want to make as huge a drop as possible. I just hope we get Half Life 3, Counterstrike 3 and Portal 3.

Nobody expected Alyx and it proves they are capable of making HL3. I played only four chapters using the NoVR mod, and hope to get through the whole when I've got time. It was superb, though I missed Merle Dandridge's voice.

Considering the expectations on HL3, probably the heaviest in gaming history, I'm sure they won't release it till it's of such a calibre that it blows the rest of the industry out of the water. It would be fantastic if an Orange Box-like collection could come with multiple sequels.

 

[guillejp]

I'm not going to hold my breath just yet. HLX could be anything Half-Life related that isn't HL3. I'll believe it when I see it, and when I see it, I'll need to change my shorts.

I'm not a fan of the franchise though I respect it, and mostly I expect it to be Half Life... X... as it says on the tin. Not 3, but more of a spin-off or sidestep like Alyx, whatever shape that takes in the end. Maybe they still don't want to deal with the pressure of the 3 and they'll steer away from it. Also not because they're using an X to mask the name in case of data mining and leaks, but because everything they've done since Portal 1-2 has been only a vessel for other purposes more than a game for a game.

OR... IT IS 3... Because they've been cooking it slowly at their leisure and also evolved their tech enough, and particularly even because maybe it's due time to set a new bar again and educate the industry on how it's done, with evolutions and innovations on every aspect, since most of the mainstream gaming industry has become more and more of a creatively bankrupt slop, so it's time.

 

[Starfals]

Nahh, its not HL3, its some other thing.

 

[wizardB]

The best strategy is: don't think about it. I'll jump for joy if this November, the crowbar comes.

No Sticks

 

[Liranan]

HL3 will, undoubtedly, be a massive disappointment after 20 years of waiting and hype. The best course of action is not to release anything and let people dream, that way they can't be disappointed.

 

[amghwk]

There's been so many long awaited sequels that fell flat on the face.

There's a reason some original games with new inventive ideas made a lasting impact on arrival.

Riding the same bandwagon is not only going to be lukewarm and ...meh... but it will be a "been-there-done-that" sort of boredom. Instead of trying to milk money from nostalgia, developers need to come up with new ideas and innovation and make a new impact, the same way the originals made.

Otherwise it's going to be a mee-too fest all over again.

P.S. Then again, I was never impressed with Half-Life as much as I had with other FPSs, despite it being the most awarded game of that time.