Half-Life 3 Archives

AppWizard

December 1, 2025

Valve sleuth says new datamine is “effectively direct confirmation” of Team Fortress 2 being ported to Source 2

Valve is working on a project referred to as 'TF,' which is likely related to Team Fortress 2. Tyler McVicker has indicated that new code confirms Team Fortress 2 is being transitioned to Source 2. A recent datamine revealed a mechanic specific to Team Fortress 2, suggesting that maps from the game are being ported to the new engine. However, the exact intentions behind this project, whether it is a remaster or a sequel, remain unclear. The project is still in early stages, and its future development is uncertain.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

This Half-Life mod reimagines the game as a boomer shooter—yes, even boomier than the original

Half-Life: Element 64 is a new mod that launched its demo on Steam, focusing on fast-paced gameplay similar to earlier classics like Quake. The mod features new levels and music while retaining some elements from the original game. Players can engage in combat against head crabs and vortigaunts in a level-select hub. The developer, Dark Vector, is working on hotfixes for the demo and has plans to unveil Half-Life Arena in two weeks, which is a deathmatch overhaul inspired by the PS2 version of Half-Life. A release date for the complete mod is not yet announced.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

A new Half-Life game has just launched a demo on Steam, but Valve’s not involved

Half-Life: Element 64 is a community-driven mod developed by Dark Vector, which has released a demo on Steam. Players need to own a copy of the original Half-Life to access the mod, which takes place in the Black Mesa Research facility and features gameplay inspired by classic first-person shooters like Doom and Quake. The mod consists of four episodes, beginning with players fighting through medical bays and research facilities overrun by alien invaders and zombified staff. The demo is available for free on Steam, and while a full release date has not been announced, it captures the essence of the original Half-Life game from 1998.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Forget Half-Life 3, the talking rat in Fatekeeper’s latest trailer is the best thing you’ll see this week

Fatekeeper is a grimdark first-person slasher game developed by Paraglacial using Unreal Engine 5, inspired primarily by Hexen rather than Dark Messiah. The game features a talking rat companion that offers cryptic advice and has gained popularity among players. It emphasizes character progression, tactical choices, and exploration, allowing players to evolve their characters into various archetypes. The combat is designed to be challenging yet not overly punishing, with hints of a Soulslike experience. Fatekeeper is set to be released as an early access title in 2026.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Geoff Keighley denies he’s hiding Half-Life 3 in his Steam wishlist, posts a screenshot to prove it, nobody believes him, and I’m starting to wonder if he’s just messing with us

Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, sparked speculation in the gaming community with a tweet that included a single emoji and encouraged followers to check the nominee page for #TheGameAwards on Steam. He revealed that he had only one game on his wishlist, which is called Dadlympics, a multiplayer game combining dad jokes with physics-based antics, released in September 2024. The game had a peak concurrent player count of six. Keighley added Dadlympics to his wishlist on November 18, the day after the speculation began.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Half-Life fans are in a frenzy over the prospect of a Half-Life 3 announcement that there’s (almost) no good reason to believe is happening

Half-Life 3 speculation has increased, driven by coincidences such as the anniversary of previous Half-Life releases and a recent post by Geoff Keighley. Gabe Newell hinted at future developments in the series, and the conclusion of Half-Life: Alyx suggests a new installment could be forthcoming. Valve is set to launch new hardware next year, which has intensified speculation about bundling a new game with these products. The community's opinions on the likelihood of an announcement vary widely, with a recent survey showing a mix of skepticism and optimism.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Steam Machine and Steam Frame: your questions answered

Valve is developing a game console called the Steam Machine, set to be released in early 2026. It is a compact gaming PC designed to fit into entertainment setups, resembling a 6-inch cube and running on SteamOS. The Steam Machine will feature a wireless controller and is claimed to have six times the performance of the Steam Deck while maintaining compatibility with its game library. Its dimensions are 152mm tall, 162.4mm deep, and 156mm wide. Pricing has not been disclosed, but Valve aims to keep it affordable within the entry-level PC market. Valve is also introducing a new Steam Controller that combines traditional gamepad features with advanced inputs and customization options. It includes drift-resistant joysticks and "Grip Sense" technology for enhanced gameplay. Additionally, Valve is developing a VR headset called the Steam Frame, which supports both flat-screen and VR gaming. It can stream games from a nearby PC and is designed to work with the Steam Machine for improved streaming quality. The estimated battery life for the Steam Frame is between one to four hours, depending on usage.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

OK, for real though, what’s the chance of a Half-Life 3 announcement happening soon? Here’s what we know

The gaming community has been speculating about Half-Life 3 for two decades, with no formal announcement yet made. However, there is renewed optimism for a new Half-Life game announcement within the next year due to several factors: the release of the VR-exclusive Half-Life: Alyx in 2020, which sets the stage for future installments; the five-year gap since the last major release; Valve's recent hardware announcements; and hints during the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2. Gabe Newell has indicated that Valve is hesitant to continue the series without significant innovation. The potential for a new Half-Life may involve VR, but this could alienate non-VR fans. Other possibilities include a new Portal game or a spinoff set in the Half-Life universe, with the Borealis ship remaining unexplored in the lore. Newell's recent interests in deep-sea exploration and neuroscience may suggest unexpected developments for the franchise.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

21 Years Ago Today, One of the Best Games Ever Came to PC

Half-Life 2 was released on November 16, 2004, as a sequel to the original Half-Life from 1998, developed by Valve using the Source engine. The game introduced a broader narrative and memorable characters, including Gordon Freeman, Alyx Vance, and Father Grigori, while featuring a sophisticated physics engine and the Gravity Gun. It received widespread acclaim, achieving a perfect score from Edge magazine and selling over 12 million copies within seven years across multiple platforms. Half-Life 2 was instrumental in establishing Steam as a dominant digital distribution platform and set new standards for storytelling in action games. Despite its success, there has been no formal sequel, although episodic content and a prequel, Half-Life: Alyx, have been released.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

I can’t live without the Steam Deck’s trackpads anymore, and I hope the Steam Controller forces the competition to adopt them

Valve has announced its latest Steam Controller, which closely resembles its predecessor. The controller features large circular trackpads that enhance gameplay for PC games typically unplayable with standard gamepads. While the design may not seem groundbreaking, the trackpads make various game genres more accessible for gamers who prefer not to use a mouse and keyboard. Despite the existence of other controllers with trackpads, such as PlayStation's DualSense and DualShock 4, their implementations are often seen as underutilized. The Steam Controller aims to bridge the gap between mouse precision and the tactile enjoyment of traditional gamepads, potentially inspiring new game types or enhancing existing ones. Valve has refined its trackpad concept over the years, demonstrating its potential in the gaming market.