Half-Life 2 Archives

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Squadron 42 has a Steam page

Game director Chris Roberts announced that Squadron 42, the single-player component of Star Citizen, will be released in Q2 2027 to avoid clashing with Grand Theft Auto 6. A dedicated Steam page for Squadron 42 has been created, listing the game’s system requirements and indicating an install size of 150GB. The game does not reference modern features like ray tracing or DirectX 12. High-profile actors Gillian Anderson and Henry Cavill will appear in cutscenes.

Tech Optimizer

October 4, 2026

Does antivirus software still slow down your PC in 2026? We tested the top security software to find out

Modern antivirus solutions have evolved to integrate seamlessly into daily computing without causing slowdowns, allowing users to maintain speed while ensuring security. Contemporary antivirus software utilizes behavioral analysis and cloud-based threat intelligence to minimize resource consumption during scans. Recent testing assessed the impact of various antivirus suites on gaming performance and internet speeds, revealing that Bitdefender had negligible drops in download and upload speeds during scans, while Malwarebytes showed a significant decline in upload performance. Avast experienced the most considerable degradation in download speeds, and McAfee unexpectedly increased upload speeds during scans. Overall, advancements in antivirus technology mean that running security software no longer requires sacrificing performance.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

This ambitious Half-Life 2 mod asks: what if Iron Lung had a submarine and an airship?

Iron Lung is an acclaimed indie horror game that has inspired a film adaptation by Markiplier. The genre of vehicular horror is largely unexplored, with few titles like Barotrauma and Klekta. The Temple is an upcoming total conversion mod for Half-Life 2 that allows players to navigate a horror-filled submarine and expands the experience into space. It is part of MapLabs and promises over two hours of gameplay, featuring three vehicles and a visually impressive environment. The mod includes elements inspired by Amnesia: The Dark Descent, such as invisible water monsters and a talking crow companion. The creator, Klems, has hinted at a potential release "very soon, possibly next month."

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Fully Playable Scream Game Found in Steam Leak [2026]

A horror game based on the Scream film franchise was discovered in the Steam data leak that occurred from August 29 to 31, 2026. The game, an unfinished multiplayer prototype created by Fatshark, was found by a Twitter user named Roly Poly Reaper, who managed to run it on their computer and enable online multiplayer. The prototype included several unfinished builds, with one featuring operational networking code that allowed players to take on the roles of survivors evading a player-controlled Ghostface. The project appears to have been a pitch build, never fully greenlit for production, and was stored in Valve’s old Steam2 backend for approximately 15 years before the leak. Roly Poly Reaper used the Goldberg Steam emulator and Radmin VPN to run the game, circumventing the need for a live connection to Valve’s servers. Fatshark, known for cooperative shooters, had reportedly built the Scream prototype around 2011, coinciding with the release of Scream 4. The prototype's existence predates the popularization of the asymmetric horror genre by several years. The Steam2 leak itself involved approximately 12 to 13 terabytes of data, including various internal builds and beta versions from Valve and third-party developers. Valve has not publicly commented on the leak.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Half-Life: Alyx gets ‘No VR’ mode, perfect for those without an expensive headset

Half-Life: Alyx has introduced a 'No VR' mode that allows players without virtual reality headsets to play the entire campaign on a flatscreen. Originally launched in 2019 as a VR-exclusive title, it faced criticism for being inaccessible to many fans of the series. The new mod enhances gameplay with interaction mechanics similar to those in games like SOMA or Amnesia, allowing players to engage with objects by aiming and holding down a button. Currently in testing, the mod covers only the first chapter of the game, with a public release expected soon. While the game is designed for VR, the mod offers an opportunity for those unable to use a headset to experience the narrative and gameplay interactively.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

Retiring Valve programmer says ‘at least one’ of the studio’s beloved game modes was made in secret to avoid pushback from peers

Programmer Christopher Green has had a long career in the gaming industry, working on titles such as Amiga's Flight Simulators, Ultima Underworld, and Magic: The Gathering Online. He has worked at Valve for a total of 16 years, during which he contributed to projects like both Source engines, Day of Defeat: Source, The Orange Box, and both Portal games. Green retired from Valve for the second time recently, having returned in 2023 after a six-year hiatus. He shared insights from his career in a blog post and hosted AMAs on Reddit. Green previously worked at Leaping Lizard Software, where he helped develop Magic: The Gathering Online. He noted that Valve's work culture allows for personal projects, but newcomers may face challenges if their ideas deviate from mainstream expectations. His retirement announcement included details about his home office setup, which features advanced technology, and he expressed enthusiasm for pursuing personal projects, likely to be shared on GitHub.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

As a PC Gamer Who Hasn’t Bought a Disc in a Decade, I Think PlayStation All-Digital Future Was a Long Time Coming – but There Are Still Reasons To Be Wary

Rockstar has decided not to release a physical version of its upcoming game, GTA 6, while Sony plans to stop producing discs for PlayStation consoles by January 2028. The gaming community has reacted strongly, but it is unlikely that either company will change its decision. The transition to a discless future is seen as inevitable. In the PC gaming sector, physical discs have largely become obsolete, with platforms like Steam dominating the market. The initial skepticism towards Steam has shifted as it became a reliable digital marketplace, leading to a decline in physical media. The absence of physical discs raises concerns about consumer autonomy, pricing, and game preservation, as digital ownership is often limited to licenses rather than full ownership. The shift away from physical media has been ongoing, with modern gaming increasingly reliant on digital downloads and updates.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

This week in PC games: vert-ramping trains, a retold murder mystery, and Cthulhu’s new gig as an AI Director

Edwin is currently sidelined by an illness following TennoCon, and he is expected to submit stories on Soulframe and Warframe: Tau before fully resting. New PC games being released this week include: - Ascend to Zero: A sci-fi action-roguelike with temporal manipulation. - Forensics: Crime Scene Detective: A game focused on managing fingerprint and bullet comparisons. - Soulforge Lost Path: A Survivorslike/bullet heaven game with limited inventory management. - D-Topia: A puzzle adventure about maintaining an AI-managed society. - The Incident at Galley House: A visual novel remake of a murder mystery text adventure. - Happy's Humble Burger Cult: A cooking horror game for 1-4 players. - Moss: The Forgotten Relic: A 3D platformer available for non-VR PC players. - Storebound: A cooperative horror puzzler launching into version 1.0. - Wreck Runners: A multiplayer game set in a haunted Bermuda Triangle. - Fogpiercer: A tactical roguelike deckbuilder focused on defending a train. - Frozen Ship: A first-person survival game launching in early access on the 17th. Additionally, today marks RPS’s 19th birthday, and the team will be scattered in the coming days for various events and holidays.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

This 28-year-old open-source Windows alternative can finally run Half-Life 2

ReactOS has successfully run Half-Life 2, following its ability to run the original Half-Life a month prior. This was achieved using a GeForce GTX 960 graphics card with Nvidia's 368.1 legacy driver and Creative Sound Blaster Audigy drivers. The progress was documented by @AotorHibiki. ReactOS is an open-source project aimed at creating a Windows-compatible operating system, currently in alpha state after nearly three decades of development.

AppWizard

July 5, 2026

One of our favorite Half-Life 2 mods is getting a stealth game prequel where you’re a Combine assassin preying on the human resistance

Entropy: Zero 2 - Progenitors is the latest installment in the Half-Life 2 mod series, shifting the narrative focus to a stealthy assassin character instead of Combine troopers. The game explores the lore of the Combine's origins and hints at a connection to Mr. P and Adrian Shephard from Opposing Force. It features a visual style that blends elements from various Half-Life eras and includes new weapons and mechanics. Gameplay footage shows innovative tactics, such as pickpocketing and using distractions. The development team has overcome challenges, and fans can follow updates on ModDB and Blixibon's YouTube channel.