The Half-Life 3 rumor mill keeps churning with fresh fuel. Valve dataminer Tyler McVicker has highlighted new code strings discovered in recent Counter-Strike 2 updates that reference HLX, the codename believed to be attached to the next mainline Half-Life game. The findings add to a growing pile of evidence suggesting Valve’s most anticipated sequel is not only real but potentially approaching the finish line after years in development.
What HLX Actually Means
The HLX codename first appeared in Valve’s code back in February 2024, discovered by dataminer Gabe Follower in Counter-Strike 2 files. The naming convention mirrors HLVR, which was the internal codename for Half-Life: Alyx before its official announcement. While nobody at Valve has confirmed what the X stands for, the HL prefix makes the connection to Half-Life pretty obvious.
Recent string discoveries include references to thumpers (devices used to repel antlions in Half-Life 2), new vehicle hitgroups, NPC reaction events for food and gravity forces, and advanced ragdoll physics. One particularly telling piece of code mentions a character wearing an HEV suit going offworld, encountering enemies like pentanks, feral manhacks, and creatures from Xen including xenogorillas, xen jellies, and swoopers. Some of these enemies were originally planned for Half-Life: Alyx but got cut during development.
Tyler McVicker’s Track Record
McVicker has been covering Valve news since he was 11 years old through his Valve News Network channel. He’s gotten plenty of things right over the years, including early leaks about Half-Life: Alyx. However, his relationship with Valve became strained after he streamed a beta version of Alyx before release, which led to legal consequences. He’s admitted to being more careful now about what he shares and how he sources information.
The Half-Life community has a complicated relationship with McVicker. Some view him as a reliable insider with legitimate connections, while others criticize him for speculation presented as fact and past mistakes. He’s deleted many older videos where he got things wrong, and he’s been accused of not always crediting the dataminers whose work he showcases. Despite the controversy, he remains one of the most prominent voices tracking Valve’s secretive development projects.
The Project White Sands Connection
Adding credibility to the HLX leaks, a voice actor briefly listed Project White Sands on their resume as an unreleased Valve title they’d worked on. The listing was quickly removed after it gained attention online. White Sands aligns thematically with Black Mesa, the research facility central to Half-Life lore, suggesting this codename refers to the same project as HLX.
McVicker has stated in videos and livestreams that HLX is a non-VR Half-Life game where you play as Gordon Freeman wearing the iconic HEV suit and wielding the crowbar. If true, this would make it the third major entry where players control Gordon directly, following Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Whether Valve calls it Half-Life 3 or something else remains unknown, but the evidence points to this being the long-awaited continuation of Gordon’s story after the cliffhanger ending of Half-Life 2: Episode 2.
How Far Along Is Development
Multiple sources tracking HLX development suggest the game entered its final stages sometime in 2024. The Alyx team reportedly began pre-production on HLX during development of the VR title in 2021. Code strings discovered throughout 2024 show increasingly polished systems being implemented, from advanced physics to electrical properties of materials and destructible body parts.
One Counter-Strike 2 update in July 2024 synced with Source 2 for the first time in almost a year, revealing a massive batch of new HLX-related code. Dataminers interpreted this as evidence the project was entering polish and optimization phases. McVicker has speculated at various points that a trailer could be revealed soon, noting similarities to the quiet period before Half-Life: Alyx was announced. However, predicting Valve’s announcement timing has proven impossible, and Half-Life fans have learned to temper expectations after decades of disappointment.
The Steam Machine Theory
Timing might finally work in Half-Life 3’s favor. Valve is launching its Steam Machine home console in 2026, and the company needs a killer exclusive to drive adoption. Half-Life: Alyx served as a showcase for the Valve Index VR headset when it launched in 2020. Using the same playbook, Half-Life 3 would be the perfect flagship title to demonstrate what the Steam Machine can do.
The strategy makes business sense. Valve hasn’t released a traditional single-player game since Alyx, and the Half-Life franchise carries enormous brand recognition even among casual gamers who’ve never played the series. Bundling Half-Life 3 with Steam Machine pre-orders or using it as an exclusive timed launch title would generate massive buzz and potentially overcome the skepticism around yet another gaming console entering an already crowded market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HLX?
HLX is the codename discovered in Valve’s code that appears to reference a new Half-Life game currently in development. The naming follows the same pattern as HLVR, which was the internal codename for Half-Life: Alyx.
Who is Tyler McVicker?
Tyler McVicker runs the Valve News Network YouTube channel and has covered Valve-related news and leaks for over a decade. He uses datamined information and insider sources to report on unreleased Valve projects, though his track record includes both accurate predictions and incorrect speculation.
Is HLX actually Half-Life 3?
While not officially confirmed, the evidence strongly suggests HLX is the next mainline Half-Life game where you play as Gordon Freeman. Whether Valve will call it Half-Life 3 or give it a different subtitle remains unknown.
When will Half-Life 3 be announced?
Nobody knows. Valve has a history of announcing games close to their release dates with minimal marketing buildup. Some speculate an announcement could coincide with the Steam Machine launch in 2026, but this is purely speculation.
Will Half-Life 3 be VR only?
All available evidence suggests HLX is a traditional non-VR game, unlike Half-Life: Alyx which required a VR headset. This would make it more accessible to the wider gaming audience.
How reliable are these leaks?
The code strings found in Counter-Strike 2 and other Valve games are real and verifiable by anyone who knows how to datamine. However, interpreting what they mean and when the game might release involves significant speculation. Development priorities can change, and Valve has cancelled projects before.
What happened at the end of Half-Life: Alyx?
Without spoiling too much, Half-Life: Alyx retroactively changed the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 in a major way. The game ends with Eli Freeman handing Gordon the crowbar, strongly implying a continuation of Gordon’s story is planned.
Why did Half-Life 3 take so long?
Valve operates without traditional project management and allows employees to work on whatever interests them. The company also generates massive revenue from Steam, reducing pressure to ship games. Additionally, the cultural weight of Half-Life 3 expectations likely made starting the project intimidating for developers.
Reality Check Time
Half-Life fans have been burned too many times to get overly excited about leaks and rumors. The community has analyzed every tiny hint for nearly two decades, only to be disappointed repeatedly. Even if HLX is real and nearing completion, there’s no guarantee Valve will release it anytime soon or that it will meet the impossible expectations built up over years of waiting. The company has cancelled ambitious projects before, most notably Stars of Blood, and could theoretically do the same with HLX if they decide it doesn’t meet their quality standards. That said, the volume and consistency of leaks throughout 2024 represents the strongest evidence yet that something substantial is actually happening. Whether that translates to an actual game you can play remains to be seen, but the copium supply for Half-Life fans has never been higher.