After a 17-year wait, a fan-made sequel to Half-Life 2, Project Borealis, has released a playable demo on Steam. Developed by the Icebreaker team, the game aims to continue the Half-Life 2 story with a modern look using Unreal Engine 5.
Project Borealis: A Fan's Dream
Project Borealis, in development since 2017, is based on a purported story outline by former Valve writer Marc Laidlaw. The demo serves as a technical showcase, demonstrating how classic Half-Life gameplay translates to the Unreal Engine 5.
Community Reception
While the demo has received mostly positive reviews on Steam, some criticism has surfaced on Reddit, mainly concerning performance issues and gameplay mechanics that feel different from the original Half-Life games. The term "prologue" has also been criticized for potentially misrepresenting the demo's limited scope.
Release Date and Future
The full release date for Project Borealis remains unknown. In the meantime, fans can revisit Half-Life: Alyx (2020), the latest official entry in the Half-Life universe.