Rumors: Half-Life 3
Unverified: Valve designer mentions HLX, renewing Half-Life 3 speculation
A Valve designer said HLX in public. Earlier code references support the link, while a past release prediction missed.
How sure
Low
The public HLX remark is documented; its link to Half-Life 3 is unconfirmed.
Valve music designer Mike Morasky mentioned HLX at a public game-audio panel, giving Half-Life 3 speculation a concrete new clue.
At GameSoundCon 2026 in Burbank, California, Morasky compared the audio systems of Deadlock and HLX. “Deadlock has its own version of HDR, HLX has its own version,” he said during the panel, according to VGC.
An earlier Counter-Strike 2 update included HLX in its data, according to Rock Paper Shotgun. That outlet also notes that Half-Life: Alyx used the codename HLVR.
Eurogamer notes that a prediction of a 2025 release did not come true. It also says Valve once planned Half-Life 2: Episode 3, then abandoned it around 2009.
What we don’t know
Valve has not announced what HLX is or confirmed that it is Half-Life 3. There is no confirmed release date, platform, or price.
That’s the whole story. Back to the main quest.
Sources
- 1
First reported by · VGC · Oct. 23
Half-Life 3 speculation grows as Valve developer mentions ‘HLX’ during stage panel - 2
Also confirmed by · Rock Paper Shotgun · Oct. 23
Half-Life 3 speculation reignited by Valve dev mentioning three sweet little rumored codenamey letters amid technical chat about video game noises - 3
Background · Eurogamer · Oct. 23
Half-Life 3 is back in the news again as Valve developer accidentally sort-of references it in public, reigniting hope once more
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