Half-Life Archives

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

A disturbing ’90s point-and-click horror game about waking up in a rundown asylum with no recollection of who you are is getting a glow up in 2026

In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Against All Odds, The Janky Soviet-Themed FPS ‘You Are Empty’ Is Coming Back Later This Year, New & Improved

The 2006 first-person shooter, You Are Empty, will be re-released as the Absolute Edition on October 27th, 2026, coinciding with its 20th anniversary. It will be available on ZOOM, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. Developed by Mandel ArtPlains and Digital Spray Studios, and published by 1C Company, the game is set in an alternate-history 1950s Soviet Kyiv. The Absolute Edition will feature modern updates such as controller support, achievements, improved loading times, and the ability to sprint, addressing issues from the original version. The retail price is expected to be .99.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

I got so freaked out by the fact that Gordon Freeman is canonically 27 that I decided to find out how old all the other classic FPS protagonists are, and it didn’t make me feel better

The narrator first played Half-Life at age 11 and found it frightening. B.J. Blazkowicz from Wolfenstein 3-D was born on August 11, 1911, making him 32-33 years old during the game's events. He is the grandfather of Commander Keen and an ancestor of DoomGuy. Kyle Katarn from Star Wars: Dark Forces was born in 23 BBY, making him 23 during Dark Forces, 28 in Jedi Knight, and 35 in Jedi Outcast. Cate Archer from No One Lives Forever was born in 1942, making her 25 during the game's events set in 1967. Prisoner 426 from Unreal has no defined age, allowing for player interpretation. Caleb from Blood was born in 1847, making him 81 during Blood set in 1928, but his death complicates his biological age. DoomGuy's age is generally assumed to be in his mid-thirties, though it is never officially specified. Ranger from Quake is suggested to be in his mid-forties to early fifties, based on lore from Quake Champions. Duke Nukem's age is ambiguous, with some sources suggesting he is between 45 and 47 during Duke Nukem Forever, while others envision him in his mid-thirties.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

One of Bethesda’s Best Games Getting New Release Next Week

On August 11, a beloved title from Bethesda will return exclusively for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and potentially PC users as part of the Xbox Game Pass offering. The addition of Date Everything to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass has been officially announced for the same day. Titles such as Grounded 2 and Bounty Star will also be added to the Premium tier after their initial releases in the Ultimate and PC tiers. Speculation surrounds the potential addition of Wolfenstein 3D, which has not been formally announced, but may be revealed at QuakeCon. Wolfenstein 3D, released in 1992, is recognized as a pivotal title in the first-person shooter genre and was ported to the Xbox 360 in 2009. The upgraded version will soon be accessible through Xbox Game Pass.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

5 Best PC Games Of The ’90s, Ranked

"Doom II" has received a new official level nearly three decades after its initial release. "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," released in 1999, features 13 distinct civilizations and has seen numerous expansions that enhance multiplayer modes. "Grim Fandango," released in 1998, is celebrated for its distinctive art design and captivating narrative, despite initial commercial struggles. "Half-Life," released in 1998, introduced a seamless gameplay experience and a compelling narrative, establishing itself as a classic in the first-person shooter genre. "StarCraft," released in 1998, allows players to choose from three unique factions and is known for its balanced gameplay and robust online multiplayer experience.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

I was excited for this Quake port of Half-Life until I discovered the creator’s wild AI conspiracy theories

The technology behind Half-Life, known as GoldSrc, is a modified version of the Quake engine, and remnants of Quake code are present in Valve's Source 2. A modder named KleskBY is developing a project called Libre-life, which aims to port elements from Half-Life into Quake source ports, particularly focusing on the Zircon Engine. KleskBY believes that older engines like GoldSrc have limitations that hinder creativity and prefers using Quake source ports over Xash3D, arguing that they offer capabilities that Xash does not. Libre-life is in early development, with progress including the reimplementation of all weapons from Half-Life 1. KleskBY uses AI extensively in the project, despite expressing strong negative opinions about AI's broader implications.

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.