After nearly two decades of memes, conspiracy theories, and broken dreams, Half-Life 3 might actually be real. Valve accidentally included references to HLX in the latest Deadlock update, and dataminers are convinced this is concrete proof that the legendary sequel is not only in development but nearing completion. The code strings specifically mention FSR3 optimization, suggesting the game has survived internal playtests and is now in the polish phase. For a fanbase that has been waiting since 2007, this is the closest thing to confirmation we’ve ever gotten.
What Dataminers Found in the Deadlock Update
On February 5, 2026, Valve released a major update for Deadlock, their hero shooter that’s still in early access. The update overhauled the map from four lanes to three and made several balance changes. But buried in the code was something far more interesting: a string that read r_hlx_fsr3_min_reactiveness. That might look like gibberish to most people, but to Half-Life fans and dataminers, it’s a smoking gun.
Gabe Follower, a well-known Valve insider and leaker, was among the first to spot the reference and shared it on X (formerly Twitter). The HLX codename has appeared before in various Valve game files over the past two years, including Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. But this is the first time it has been directly tied to FSR3, AMD’s upscaling technology designed to boost performance in demanding games. That detail is huge because it suggests HLX has moved beyond the experimental phase and into optimization, which typically happens in the final stages of development.
Why FSR3 Matters
The inclusion of FSR3 code is significant for a few reasons. First, optimization work usually happens after core gameplay and story elements are locked down. Developers don’t bother implementing performance-boosting tech like FSR3 or DLSS until they’re confident the game is actually going to ship. Second, Deadlock just received FSR3 support in the same update, and it appears Valve accidentally included HLX-specific code during the implementation process. That kind of mistake suggests the two projects are being developed on the same engine infrastructure, and developers are working on both simultaneously.
Reddit user Stannis_Loyalist, who shared their findings on the Half-Life subreddit, suspects that during FSR3 integration into HLX, the code was accidentally pushed into Deadlock’s public build. According to Stannis, this indicates that HLX is in late-stage development. Multiple other users echoed this sentiment, with one commenter noting that Valve has been extremely careful not to leave direct references to HLX in public game files until now. The fact that this code wasn’t immediately scrubbed suggests either carelessness or confidence that an announcement is coming soon.
The HLX Mystery Explained
For those who haven’t been following the Half-Life 3 rumor mill, HLX is believed to be the internal codename for the next major Half-Life game. The name follows Valve’s established pattern. Half-Life: Alyx, the VR prequel released in 2020, was codenamed HLVR during development. The X in HLX is more ambiguous. Some speculate it stands for Half-Life 10 (X being the Roman numeral), while others think it’s just a placeholder or refers to something else entirely like cross-platform support.
Dataminers have been tracking HLX references since early 2024, when strings first appeared in Counter-Strike 2 files. Since then, additional mentions have popped up in Dota 2, Source 2 engine updates, and now Deadlock. Each discovery has added new pieces to the puzzle. For example, code strings found in Dota 2 revealed that the HLX protagonist wears an HEV suit (Gordon Freeman’s iconic hazmat armor), travels offworld, and faces enemies like pentanks, feral manhacks, and various Xen creatures including xenorillas and swoopers. Some of these enemies were reportedly cut from Half-Life: Alyx and repurposed for this new project.
A Non-VR Half-Life Game
One of the most exciting aspects of HLX is that it appears to be a traditional, non-VR first-person shooter. Half-Life: Alyx was incredible, but its VR-only requirement limited the audience. Industry insider Tyler McVicker, who runs the Valve News Network, has stated that HLX is a substantial, flat-screen Half-Life game that sounds almost too good to be true. If accurate, this would be the first mainline Half-Life game since Half-Life 2: Episode Two in 2007. That’s nearly 20 years of waiting for millions of fans.
McVicker also revealed that HLX has been in pre-production since at least 2021, during the development of Half-Life: Alyx. The project is internally referred to as Project White Sands, and it involves a protagonist in an HEV suit who ventures to alien worlds and battles a mix of Combine forces and Xen creatures. Weapons like the iconic gravity gun are expected to return, along with new tools and mechanics that take advantage of Source 2 engine improvements.
Valve’s Track Record with Leaks
Valve has a long history of accidentally leaking information through game files. Source 2 is shared across all of Valve’s games, meaning updates to one game often include assets and code references from other projects. When you download a Counter-Strike 2 patch, you’re not just getting CS2 content. You’re also getting fragments of whatever else Valve is working on, including Dota 2, Deadlock, and apparently HLX. This is how dataminers have been able to track the development of Deadlock for years before it was officially revealed.
The difference this time is that Valve hasn’t immediately removed the HLX references from the Deadlock files. Usually, when something sensitive leaks, Valve pushes a hotfix within hours to scrub the evidence. The fact that the HLX FSR3 code is still present days after the update suggests either an oversight or deliberate indifference. Some Reddit users believe this means an announcement is imminent, and Valve simply doesn’t care if people find the references anymore.
Why Fans Think an Announcement Is Coming
There are several reasons why the Half-Life community is more optimistic than usual. First, Mike Shapiro, the voice actor for the G-Man, posted a cryptic New Year’s message in early 2025 hinting at unexpected surprises related to Half-Life and Valve. He didn’t provide specifics, but the timing lined up with increased HLX activity in game files. Second, Valve’s Steam page currently lists two upcoming games in the sidebar, but only Deadlock is publicly visible. Fans have speculated that the second hidden game is HLX.
Third, Valve has been rolling out significant Source 2 engine upgrades over the past year. They released a ray-tracing demo for Half-Life 2, showcasing advanced water and hair physics. While some of these improvements could be for Deadlock, the timing and scale suggest they’re preparing for a bigger, single-player project. Finally, Valve has been pushing new hardware, including the Steam Deck and rumored Steam Machine 2.0. A flagship title like Half-Life 3 would be the perfect showcase for new hardware, similar to how Half-Life: Alyx was used to promote the Valve Index VR headset.
The Reddit Reaction
The Half-Life subreddit and GamingLeaksAndRumours community went into overdrive after the Deadlock datamine dropped. Users dissected every line of code, cross-referenced previous leaks, and debated what it all means. One user commented that they’ve been reading HLX leaks for two years and waiting over a decade for a new Half-Life game, and while they’re still hyped, the constant teasing is exhausting. Others expressed cautious optimism, noting that Valve has a habit of starting projects and then abandoning them when developers lose interest or move to other teams.
One particularly insightful comment pointed out that Valve doesn’t synchronize product launches. The Valve Index launched a year before Half-Life: Alyx because the game needed more development time. If the rumored Steam Machine isn’t ready, Valve will still release HLX when it’s done. But they won’t make an official announcement until the release date is locked in. That caution makes sense given Valve’s history of delays and radio silence.
What Comes Next?
If the dataminers are correct and HLX is in late-stage development, then an announcement could happen anytime in 2026. Valve doesn’t follow traditional marketing cycles, so don’t expect a teaser trailer at E3 or a big showcase event. More likely, they’ll drop a cryptic Steam page update or a surprise announcement during a random Tuesday. That’s just how Valve operates.
The fact that FSR3 optimization is underway suggests the game has passed internal playtests and is being prepared for a wider audience. Gabe Follower noted in a follow-up post that it’s not the most groundbreaking leak by itself, but it confirms that HLX survived Valve’s winter break and is still actively being worked on in 2026. For a company notorious for canceling projects without warning, that’s actually significant.
Whether HLX turns out to be Half-Life 3, Half-Life 2: Episode Three, or something entirely different remains to be seen. But after years of silence, jokes, and disappointment, the evidence is piling up that Valve is finally ready to return to the franchise that defined them. Fans have learned not to get their hopes up too high, but this time, it genuinely feels different.
FAQs
What is HLX?
HLX is believed to be the internal codename for Valve’s next Half-Life game, possibly Half-Life 3. The name follows the pattern of HLVR, which was the codename for Half-Life: Alyx. Datamined files suggest it’s a non-VR, single-player first-person shooter featuring Gordon Freeman or a character in an HEV suit.
What did dataminers find in the Deadlock update?
Dataminers discovered a code string that reads r_hlx_fsr3_min_reactiveness in the February 5, 2026 Deadlock update. This suggests that HLX has FSR3 (AMD’s upscaling technology) support, indicating the project is in late-stage development and optimization phase.
Why is FSR3 support important?
FSR3 is a performance optimization technology that developers typically implement in the final stages of game development. The fact that Valve is adding FSR3 support to HLX suggests the game has moved beyond experimental phases and is being prepared for release.
Who is Gabe Follower?
Gabe Follower is a well-known Valve insider and content creator who specializes in datamining and tracking Valve’s unreleased projects. They have a track record of accurately reporting on Valve developments, including early information about Deadlock before it was officially revealed.
Is HLX the same as Half-Life: Alyx?
No. Half-Life: Alyx was codenamed HLVR and was released in 2020 as a VR-exclusive prequel. HLX is a separate project that appears to be a traditional, non-VR Half-Life game featuring an HEV-suited protagonist, possibly Gordon Freeman.
When will Half-Life 3 be announced?
There’s no official announcement date, but many fans and insiders believe 2026 could be the year based on the increasing frequency of HLX leaks, voice actor teases, and the fact that Valve appears to be in the optimization phase of development.
What enemies will be in HLX?
Datamined code strings suggest HLX will feature enemies like pentanks, feral manhacks, and Xen creatures including xenorillas, Xen jelly, and swoopers. Some of these were reportedly cut from Half-Life: Alyx and repurposed for this project.
Why does Valve keep leaking information through game files?
Valve uses a shared Source 2 engine infrastructure across all their games. When they update one game like Counter-Strike 2 or Deadlock, the update often includes code fragments from other projects they’re working on. This makes it easy for dataminers to discover unreleased content.
Conclusion
The accidental HLX leak in Deadlock’s February 2026 update is the most concrete evidence yet that Half-Life 3 (or whatever Valve is calling it) is real and nearing completion. FSR3 optimization code suggests the game has progressed beyond the experimental stage and is being prepared for public release. While Valve has remained characteristically silent, the mounting evidence from datamines, voice actor teases, and engine upgrades all point toward an announcement sometime in 2026. After nearly two decades of waiting, Half-Life fans might finally get the sequel they’ve been begging for. Whether it lives up to the impossible hype is another question entirely, but for now, the dream is alive.