The Half-Life 3 rumor mill just got another credible voice added to the mix. NateTheHate, a well-known gaming insider with a solid track record for Nintendo leaks, has confirmed he’s heard information about HLX (the alleged codename for Half-Life 3) and is now trying to figure out when Valve plans to announce it. He’s the fifth major industry insider to comment on the project in recent months, and the walls are starting to close in on Valve’s legendary secret.
For context, this isn’t some random person on the internet making wild claims. NateTheHate has successfully leaked multiple Nintendo Direct announcements and has built credibility over years of accurate reporting. When someone with that kind of track record says they’ve heard about Half-Life 3, people pay attention. And when they’re the fifth insider in a row to say essentially the same thing, the skepticism starts melting away.
Who Else Has Been Talking About Half-Life 3?
NateTheHate joins a growing list of gaming insiders who have all independently confirmed they’ve heard about a new Half-Life project. Tyler McVicker, a content creator known for datamining Valve projects, has been the most vocal. Back in April and May 2025, he claimed the HLX project was “playable from start to finish” and had gone through optimization and polishing. He clarified it’s not a VR-exclusive game like Half-Life: Alyx, which immediately got people excited about a traditional Half-Life experience.
GabeFollower, another Valve-focused insider, stated in November 2025 that “nothing changed” from their information last year and that Valve is “still aiming for a 2025 announcement.” That timeline is tight considering we’re already in late November, but the anniversary of the original Half-Life on November 19 has been circled on many calendars as a potential reveal date.
Mike Straw from Insider Gaming dropped a cryptic tweet that simply said, “It’s happening soon enough. Just be ready.” It’s vague, sure, but the timing and context made it pretty clear what he was referring to. When multiple insiders with different sources all start saying the same thing around the same time, it’s hard to dismiss as coincidence.
The Mysterious HLX Project
So what exactly is HLX? According to the various leaks and insider reports, it’s the internal codename for Valve’s next Half-Life project. Whether it’s officially called Half-Life 3 or something else remains to be seen, but all signs point to it being a direct continuation of the story rather than another spinoff or VR experiment.
The game reportedly uses an advanced AI Director system similar to Left 4 Dead, but significantly more sophisticated. This system dynamically adjusts enemy placement, items, and environmental elements without changing the core story or level geometry. It’s not procedural generation in the roguelike sense, but rather a way to make each playthrough feel fresh while maintaining the narrative-driven experience Half-Life is known for.
McVicker also suggested that Portal’s protagonist Chell might make an appearance in Half-Life 3, which would be a significant crossover moment for Valve’s interconnected universe. He’s been careful not to spoil story details, but the mere mention of this possibility has fans speculating about how the two franchises might connect.
Why This Time Feels Different
Half-Life 3 rumors are nothing new. They’ve been circulating for nearly two decades, and we’ve all been burned before. But this current wave of speculation has something the previous ones lacked: multiple credible sources with actual industry connections all saying the same thing within a short timeframe. That’s not how baseless rumors typically work.
The timing also makes sense from a business perspective. Valve just announced three new hardware products launching in early 2026: the Steam Machine (a living room gaming PC), the Steam Frame (a VR headset), and a new Steam Controller. A major first-party title like Half-Life 3 would be the perfect launch showcase for this hardware, particularly the Steam Machine.
There’s also the matter of Valve’s developer page on Steam, which lists five upcoming releases but only shows four publicly known titles (Deadlock, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, Steam Controller). That mysterious fifth slot has everyone convinced it’s Half-Life 3, especially since Valve rarely makes mistakes with public-facing information like that.
Geoff Keighley’s Hidden Wishlist Game
Adding fuel to the fire, Geoff Keighley (host of The Game Awards) was recently spotted with a hidden game on his public Steam wishlist. He quickly made the wishlist private after people noticed, but the damage was done. The speculation is that Valve gave him early access to wishlist Half-Life 3 ahead of a potential Game Awards reveal in December.
Keighley has a long history with Valve and has featured their announcements at major gaming events before. If Valve were planning a big reveal for Half-Life 3, The Game Awards would be one of the most-watched platforms to do it. The show takes place in December, which aligns with the winter 2025 announcement window that several insiders have mentioned.
The Credibility Question
NateTheHate’s acknowledgment matters because of his track record. He’s not someone who throws out random speculation for clicks. His history of accurate Nintendo-related leaks gives him credibility that carries over to other gaming news. When he says he’s heard about something and is trying to verify timing, it suggests he has actual sources feeding him information, not just educated guesses.
The fact that he’s being cautious about the announcement timing is also telling. If this were just rumormongering, he’d probably throw out a specific date for attention. Instead, he’s acknowledging the information exists while admitting he doesn’t know when Valve plans to reveal it. That’s the behavior of someone who has legitimate sources but incomplete information.
What Could Go Wrong?
Of course, there’s always the chance this entire rumor cycle ends in disappointment. Valve is notoriously unpredictable and has canceled high-profile projects before. Just because Half-Life 3 exists in some playable form doesn’t guarantee it will ever see public release. The company has scrapped multiple versions of Half-Life 3 over the years, and there’s no guarantee this version won’t meet the same fate.
Tyler McVicker himself has repeatedly emphasized that while HLX is real, he doesn’t know a confirmed announcement date. GabeFollower’s information is based on what Valve was “aiming for” internally, not a guaranteed public commitment. Even if everything these insiders have heard is 100 percent accurate, plans can change, especially at a company as unconventional as Valve.
There’s also the Jason Schreier factor. The Bloomberg journalist, who has one of the best track records in gaming journalism, clarified that his prediction about Half-Life 3 in 2025 was just that: a prediction, not based on insider information. If Schreier hasn’t heard concrete details, it suggests Valve has kept this project remarkably quiet outside of a small circle of industry contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is NateTheHate and why does his acknowledgment matter?
NateTheHate is a credible gaming insider and leaker with a strong track record, particularly regarding Nintendo Direct announcements and general gaming industry news. His acknowledgment matters because he’s the fifth major insider to independently confirm hearing about Half-Life 3 or the HLX project, adding more weight to the rumors. He’s known for being cautious and accurate rather than spreading baseless speculation.
What is the HLX project that insiders keep mentioning?
HLX is the alleged internal codename for Valve’s next Half-Life project, widely believed to be Half-Life 3. According to leaks, the game is reportedly playable from start to finish, not VR-exclusive, and uses an advanced AI Director system to dynamically adjust gameplay elements while maintaining a fixed narrative. The project has allegedly progressed further than any previous Half-Life 3 attempt.
Which other gaming insiders have confirmed hearing about Half-Life 3?
Besides NateTheHate, four other credible insiders have commented on Half-Life 3: Tyler McVicker (a Valve-focused content creator and dataminer), GabeFollower (a Valve insider), Mike Straw from Insider Gaming, and there have been hints from others in the industry. All have independently suggested that a new Half-Life project exists and may be announced in late 2025.
When could Half-Life 3 be announced?
Multiple insiders have suggested Valve is targeting a 2025 announcement, with speculation centered around November 19 (Half-Life’s anniversary) or The Game Awards in December 2025. However, no insider has confirmed a specific date, and Tyler McVicker has emphasized that while the project is real, no announcement date is currently known. Some rumors suggest a winter 2025 release following the announcement.
Could Half-Life 3 be a launch title for Valve’s new Steam Machine?
It’s very possible. Valve just announced the Steam Machine, a living room gaming PC launching in early 2026, along with the Steam Frame VR headset and a new Steam Controller. A major first-party title like Half-Life 3 would serve as an ideal showcase for this new hardware, similar to how Half-Life: Alyx launched alongside Valve’s VR headset.
What did Geoff Keighley have hidden on his Steam wishlist?
Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, was spotted with a hidden game on his public Steam wishlist, which he quickly made private after people noticed. The speculation is that Valve gave him early access to wishlist an unannounced game, potentially Half-Life 3, ahead of a possible reveal at The Game Awards in December 2025.
Has Valve officially said anything about Half-Life 3?
No, Valve has not made any official announcement or statement about Half-Life 3 as of November 2025. The company remains characteristically silent on the matter. However, Gabe Newell did lightly tease during the Half-Life 2 anniversary celebration in 2024 that there’s more to be done in the series, and the ending of Half-Life: Alyx clearly sets the stage for a continuation.
Why should we believe Half-Life 3 rumors this time?
This wave of rumors is different because multiple credible insiders with proven track records are independently confirming similar information within a short timeframe. Additionally, there’s circumstantial evidence like Valve’s mysterious fifth game slot on their developer page, new hardware that would benefit from a major launch title, and the timing aligning with Half-Life’s anniversary. However, healthy skepticism is still warranted given Valve’s history.
The Bottom Line
NateTheHate’s acknowledgment is another piece of a puzzle that’s starting to look more and more complete. When one insider mentions Half-Life 3, it’s interesting. When five independent sources all say they’ve heard about it, it becomes significant. The convergence of information from different people with different sources suggests something real is happening behind Valve’s notoriously secretive doors.
That said, managing expectations is crucial. Half-Life fans have been hurt before, repeatedly, over nearly two decades. Even if Half-Life 3 exists in a playable state right now, that doesn’t guarantee Valve will release it. The company has canceled projects at late stages of development before, and their unconventional management structure means projects can lose momentum if internal support wanes.
The next few weeks will be telling. If the November 19 anniversary passes without an announcement, attention will shift to The Game Awards in December. If that also comes and goes with no Half-Life news, these rumors will likely fade into the background like so many before them. But if Valve does finally pull the trigger and reveal Half-Life 3, it will be one of the most significant announcements in gaming history, vindicating years of speculation and hope from one of the most patient fanbases in the industry.
For now, all we can do is watch, wait, and try not to get our hopes up too much. But with five credible insiders all pointing in the same direction, it’s getting harder to maintain that protective cynicism. Maybe, just maybe, this is finally it.