“Half-Life 3 is real,” claims Valve insider behind deadlock revelation

Can you believe it's been 20 years since Half-Life 2? In that time, Valve has done everything in its power not to reveal a sequel, but instead released various episodes for Half-Life 2 and the incredible VR spinoff Half-Life Alyx. It has also been hard at work on other titles, including the new shooter Deadlock. After 20 years of waiting, we have all grown tired and wonder if Half-life 3 even exists, let alone when it will be released. Now, the Valve insider behind the Deadlock leak has officially stated that Half-Life 3 does indeed exist, even if it's not quite what we expected.

Half-Life 3 is without question one of the most anticipated FPS games in history, despite being so far removed from the previous main installment two decades ago. The cliffhanger ending of the HL2 saga is reason enough to yearn for more. Although the mysterious Black Mesa website that recently sparked new rumors turned out to be a dead end, this new leak gives renewed hope that we might see the long-awaited sequel after all.

Yesterday, Valve insider aptly named “Gabe Follower,” who leaked reliable details even before Deadlock's reveal, claimed that “Half-Life 3 is real,” and posted a lengthy video detailing all the information he's dug up. Specifically, he claims that Half-Life 3, also known as Half-Life Xen, is “most likely a direct sequel to Half-Life Alyx,” continuing the spin-off's story and taking us back to the dimensional realm of Xen.

In addition, the leaker claims that Half-Life 3 will feature a semi-open world, a weather system and a day-night cycle, and even “intelligent NPCs that can talk to you.” Undeniably bold claims about a game shrouded in mystery.

So how did these leaks come about? Well, according to the insider, there are various mentions of Half-Life in the files of other Valve games, including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Deadlock. For example, a mention of HLX is included in Deadlock's bug reporter configuration files, which is similar to how Counter-Strike 2 was included in Dota 2's bug reporter files three years before its official reveal. Likewise, Deadlock also contains references to the iconic HEV suit, gravity gun, and Xen creatures, the first of which was renamed Burbank suit in the game files.

Obviously, there are references to Half-Life in Valve's titles, particularly the upcoming FPS Deadlock. However, there's no guarantee that it's necessarily Half-Life 3, or that it'll even be released at some point. It's not uncommon for developers to test ideas and create projects that ultimately never see the light of day. Plus, there have been so many leaks and rumors in the 20 years since Half-Life 2 that have never come to fruition, so don't get your hopes up just yet.

For more details on HL3's storied history, check out our article where we ask the question: What happened to Half-Life 3? If the wait is really getting to you, console yourself with some of the best classic games you can still play today.

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