Pass the copium, because it’s time for another big old huff. According to a new report, Half-Life 3 is really definitely real and, despite the fact it was a no-show at The Game Awards, it’s coming way sooner than we expected.
The Game Awards’ 2025 show had some huge surprises. Larian is working on a new Divinity, and industry legend Casey Hudson is working on a brand-new Star Wars RPG set at the end of the Old Republic era. What more could you want in terms of reveals? Well, Half-Life 3, obviously.
Half-Life 3 Wasn’t At The Game Awards, But It’s Still Coming
Are you strong enough to keep doing this?
There were plenty of rumours that suggested Half-Life 3 would be the biggest reveal at The Game Awards, though these rumours ultimately came to nothing in the end.
Don’t give up hope yet, though! In a new episode of the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, journalist Mike Straw reiterated Half-Life 3 is real and will launch alongside the Steam Machine, as previously rumored. So why haven’t we seen the new game yet?
According to Straw, Valve is waiting to announce Half-Life 3 because of the current state of RAM pricing, as they believe it will affect the release of the Steam Machine. Essentially, Valve doesn’t want to reveal and release the new Half-Life until it’s certain it can release the Steam Machine alongside it. Makes sense. If any game is a system-seller, surely it’s Half-Life 3.
“I wanted to just give an update on things. People have asked. I have been told a date. I wasn’t going to report that date because they weren’t 100% confident in that date. That date has sailed past. So, there’s a reason I didn’t report it. Every date from every journalist I’ve spoken with, every creator who follows it and has dug, every single date that they were told has passed. […] Now, everything I have, everybody I talked to, is still adamant that Half-Life 3 will be a launch title for the Steam Machine. There is a concern, however, that they haven’t made a decision on price, which is holding back the announcement of anything else. The reason is because of PC RAM prices. They’re up 200%, 300%, 500% of what they were in October, and it’s only getting worse.”
Which brings us to the game’s release window. Apparently, Valve is hoping to release the Steam Machine and Half-Life 3 in Spring 2026, which does seem to line up with previous rumours.
Half-Life Fans Have Suffered Enough
But you’ll suffer some more
Half-Life fans have waited so long for Half-Life 3 that the very concept of the game has become a meme. Can it possibly live up to the hype after all this time? All I’ll say is if you ever played the VR prequel/spinoff Half-Life: Alyx, you’ll know that Valve still has the sauce when it comes to developing games.
I do believe that all these reports are accurate, and that Half-Life 3 really is in development. I also think Valve is ultimately going to announce it in the weirdest, most unexpected way, and I can’t wait.
ha
