When Sean Hollister from The Verge walked into Valve’s headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, he noticed something unusual. Security guards lined the halls. The secrecy was intense. And then Valve revealed what they’d been hiding: a new Steam Controller, a living room gaming PC called the Steam Machine, and a VR headset named the Steam Frame. No Half-Life 3. Not even a tease.
After years of waiting and countless memes about Valve’s inability to count to three, you’d think that level of security meant something big was coming. Instead, we got hardware announcements for products launching in 2026. Don’t get me wrong, the new gear looks promising. But security guards? For a controller?
What Valve Actually Announced
Valve dropped three hardware products that collectively represent their biggest push since the Steam Deck. The Steam Machine is a compact gaming PC designed for TVs, roughly the size of a GameCube. It runs SteamOS and packs a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with 6 cores and an RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units. According to Valve, it’s over six times more powerful than the Steam Deck and capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS.
The Steam Frame is a standalone VR headset powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Unlike most VR headsets, it runs SteamOS and supports both VR games and regular flat-screen games through a virtual cinema mode. The modular design separates the battery and audio from the core processing unit, and there’s an expansion slot on the front for future upgrades. Engineers have reportedly been working on this project for about six years, starting right after the Valve Index shipped.
Then there’s the second-generation Steam Controller. The original launched in 2015 to mixed reviews and was discontinued in 2019. This new version learns from past mistakes by including two thumbsticks instead of one, keeping trackpads for mouse-like precision, and using drift-resistant TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) technology. It connects via Bluetooth or a dedicated 2.4 GHz puck that can handle up to four controllers simultaneously.
The Products Look Good, But Why the Security?
Here’s where things get weird. Hollister specifically mentioned security guards lining the halls during his visit. That’s not standard procedure for hardware previews. Tech journalists visit company headquarters all the time to check out new products, and it rarely involves that level of security theater.
So what was Valve protecting? The obvious answer that jumps to mind for any Valve fan is Half-Life 3. The game has become gaming’s biggest running joke, with the decades-long wait spawning countless memes about Valve’s inability to count past two. Every time Valve does anything, fans hope it’s finally time for the announcement.
But it wasn’t Half-Life 3. It was hardware that, while interesting, doesn’t really require Fort Knox level security. The Steam Machine concept isn’t new – Valve tried it before in 2015 and it flopped. The Steam Controller is a revision of existing technology. Even the Steam Frame, while ambitious, follows established VR headset conventions with some SteamOS integration.
Is Valve Hiding Something Bigger?
The security measures suggest Valve might have been worried about something else leaking. Gaming leaks have become increasingly common, with major announcements spoiled weeks or months ahead of time. Perhaps Valve simply wanted to maintain control over their messaging for once.
There’s also the possibility that other unannounced projects were visible in the building. Engineers working on multiple projects simultaneously could mean prototypes or development kits for future products sitting around. Security guards ensure visiting journalists only see what Valve wants them to see.
Still, you can understand the disappointment. When a company known for taking its time on major projects suddenly gets serious about security for a press visit, expectations naturally rise. The gaming community has been waiting for Half-Life 3 since Half-Life 2: Episode Two ended on a cliffhanger back in 2007. That’s 18 years of waiting, hoping, and speculating.
Why Valve Keeps Us Guessing
Valve operates differently than most game companies. They don’t do regular release schedules or annual franchise updates. When they make something, it’s supposed to be special, innovative, or push the medium forward in some way. That philosophy has given us classics like Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Counter-Strike, but it also means extremely long development cycles.
The company’s flat organizational structure means employees work on what interests them rather than following top-down mandates. This can lead to brilliant innovation but also means projects can languish or get canceled if they lose internal momentum. Half-Life 3 has likely been started and stopped multiple times over the years as priorities shift and new technologies emerge.
There’s evidence that Valve is working on something Half-Life related. Datamined assets and code snippets appeared last year, and voice actors have hinted at involvement in new projects. But whether that’s Half-Life 3, another VR game like Half-Life: Alyx, or something else entirely remains unknown.
The Hardware Deserves Attention Too
While the lack of Half-Life 3 dominated discussion, Valve’s hardware announcements represent a significant strategic move. The company is clearly betting that SteamOS can compete with traditional consoles and closed gaming ecosystems. The Steam Deck proved the concept works for handhelds, and now Valve wants to expand that success to living rooms and VR.
The Steam Machine’s specs put it somewhere between current-gen consoles and high-end gaming PCs. The promise of running Steam Deck Verified games automatically gives it a library of thousands of titles at launch. The upgradeable RAM and potential for parts availability through iFixit partnerships address some concerns about longevity and repairability.
The Steam Frame could be genuinely innovative if Valve nails the execution. A standalone VR headset that plays both VR and flat-screen games, runs full SteamOS, and supports Android APK sideloading offers flexibility that competitors don’t match. The modular design and expansion slot suggest Valve is thinking long-term about upgrades and improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Valve announce Half-Life 3 during the hardware reveal?
No, Valve did not announce Half-Life 3. Despite heavy security measures during The Verge’s visit to Valve headquarters, the company only revealed three hardware products: the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and a new Steam Controller. All three are scheduled to launch in early 2026.
Why were there security guards at Valve headquarters during the press visit?
Valve had security guards lining the halls during media previews, which is unusual for standard hardware announcements. The company has not officially explained the heightened security, but it was likely to prevent leaks of unannounced projects or to control what visiting journalists could see in the building.
What is the Steam Machine and when will it be released?
The Steam Machine is a compact living room gaming PC roughly the size of a GameCube. It features a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with RDNA3 graphics, runs SteamOS, and is reportedly over six times more powerful than the Steam Deck. It’s designed to fit under TV stands and will launch sometime in early 2026, though pricing hasn’t been announced.
What makes the Steam Frame different from other VR headsets?
The Steam Frame runs SteamOS rather than Android or a proprietary OS, making it the first mainstream VR headset to use a Linux-based operating system. It supports both VR games and regular flat-screen gaming through a virtual cinema mode, can sideload Android APKs, and features a modular design with an expansion slot for future upgrades. It uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and will launch in 2026.
How is the new Steam Controller different from the original?
The second-generation Steam Controller includes two thumbsticks instead of one, addressing the biggest complaint about the original model. It retains the trackpads for mouse-like precision, uses drift-resistant TMR technology, and offers both Bluetooth and dedicated 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. The controller can run for over 35 hours on a single charge and comes with a puck that can connect up to four controllers simultaneously.
Is Valve working on Half-Life 3 or any other Half-Life games?
While Valve hasn’t officially announced any new Half-Life projects, evidence suggests something is in development. Datamined assets and code snippets appeared in 2024, and voice actors have hinted at involvement in new projects. However, whether this is Half-Life 3, another VR title, or something else entirely remains unconfirmed. The series has been dormant since Half-Life: Alyx launched in 2020.
Why does Valve take so long to announce new games?
Valve’s flat organizational structure allows employees to work on projects that interest them rather than following strict deadlines or mandates from management. This approach can lead to innovation but also means projects may be started and stopped multiple times as priorities shift. The company only announces products when they’re confident in the final result, which can lead to extremely long development cycles.
The Waiting Game Continues
Sean Hollister’s article title asks a fair question: if Valve didn’t announce Half-Life 3, why all the secrecy? The truth is probably more mundane than fans hope. Companies protect unreleased products, journalists need supervised access to prevent leaks, and Valve has always been protective of its internal workings.
But the disappointment is real and understandable. Every Valve event carries the weight of expectation built up over nearly two decades. Fans scrutinize every detail, looking for hints that the wait is finally over. Security guards at headquarters feed that speculation, making the eventual reveal of standard hardware announcements feel anticlimactic.
The hardware itself looks genuinely interesting and could reshape how people think about PC gaming. A powerful living room console running SteamOS, a flexible VR headset with standalone capabilities, and an improved controller that learned from past mistakes all deserve attention on their own merits. But they’ll always be compared to the game that Valve seemingly can’t or won’t make.
For now, the memes continue, the speculation persists, and Half-Life fans return to waiting. Maybe next time Valve rolls out the security guards, they’ll actually have Gordon Freeman news to share. Or maybe we’re all just setting ourselves up for disappointment again. With Valve, you never really know.