The first Half-Life game came out in 1998 and was Valve’s first release. It was a hit with players and stayed popular for years, especially because of its active modding community. Since then, the series has grown to include Half-Life 2 (2004), a few shorter follow-up games, and the VR title Half-Life: Alyx. However, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard any news about a new Half-Life game. While there have been many rumors about Valve finally announcing Half-Life 3, nothing official has happened. With The Game Awards now over, it seems unlikely we’ll get any news in 2025. But a recent rumor might explain why.
It’s been over 20 years since the release of Half-Life 2, and the two follow-up episodes, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, ended on a cliffhanger back in 2007. While Valve released a VR game in 2020, the Half-Life series has mostly been inactive. For years, Valve hasn’t said much about the possibility of Half-Life 3. Recently, rumors started circulating that Half-Life 3 might be revealed at the 2025 Game Awards, but that didn’t happen. According to industry insider Mike Straw, there’s a good reason why.
Valve Could Be Planning Half-Life 3 As a Steam Machine Launch Title
On the latest episode of the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, Mike Straw discussed Valve’s potential plans for Half-Life 3. While he didn’t share specific sources, Straw says he’s spoken to people familiar with Valve’s thinking, and they believe Half-Life 3 is still intended to be a launch game for the Steam Machine. This suggests Valve might wait to announce Half-Life 3 until they’ve confirmed the Steam Machine’s release date.
Valve announced they’re updating the Steam Machine, but haven’t released many details since. One major concern is the price – many people worry it will be much more expensive than today’s PlayStation or Xbox. According to one source, Valve might be delaying the release as they figure out how to price the new device.
Because the parts needed to build the Steam Machine are currently expensive, Valve might have to sell it for more than people expect. Until Valve sets a price for the console, they won’t announce a firm release date. This could mean they’re waiting to announce if Half-Life 3 will be a launch game until they can use it to build excitement around the Steam Machine itself.
According to Straw, his information might not be completely up-to-date given the many unknowns. However, his source indicated a potential release for both the Steam Machine and Half-Life 3 in Spring 2026. This aligns with Valve’s own suggestion of an “early 2026” launch for the Steam Machine, making that timeframe likely. Whether Half-Life 3 will actually be released then remains to be seen, and we’ll need to wait for an official announcement from Valve.
Okay, so be honest – if Valve finally released Half-Life 3, would I be more tempted to grab a Steam Machine? I’m seriously curious what everyone else thinks, so let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum! Head over there and let me know your thoughts!
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2025-12-13 19:10