Following the release of Half-Life: Alyx and updates to the Source 2 engine, speculation about a potential Half-Life 3 has been rampant. Data miner GabeFollower has added fuel to the fire with a new video analyzing recent engine changes.
In a 15-minute video, GabeFollower presents evidence that he believes points to the development of Half-Life 3, supposedly in progress since the release of Alyx. Key findings include:
- Code notations changing from "hlvr" (Alyx) to "hlx," which aligns with Valve's typical sequel naming conventions.
- Source 2 engine updates featuring dynamic weather, advanced NPC behavior, vehicle physics, and hair rendering – features unlikely to be necessary for Counter-Strike 2 but essential for a modern single-player narrative game.
- The addition of an "NPC Maker" function for creating characters with varied goals and behaviors, and a limb damage system for realistic reactions to injuries during firefights.
GabeFollower claims that industry veterans, secretly hired by Valve over several years, are working on these systems. These hires reportedly include former developers from DOOM, Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption, and even Forza Horizon.
He concludes that these changes strongly suggest preparations for a major project. According to GabeFollower, Half-Life 3 has undergone multiple prototyping phases, but previous attempts were hampered by engine limitations. Now, it seems Valve may finally have the tools to create the long-awaited sequel.
