Half-Life enthusiasts have theorized a potential announcement date for the long-awaited Half-Life 3, pinpointing mid-November 2025 based on Steam's event schedule. The speculation arises from a noticeable gap in major Steam events and recent shifts in sale timings. While unconfirmed, it builds on prior leaks suggesting active development of a new Half-Life project.
Background on Half-Life 3 Rumors
The Half-Life series, developed by Valve, has been a cornerstone of gaming since the original game's 1998 release. Half-Life 2 in 2004 expanded its legacy, but fans have awaited a third installment for over two decades. Earlier reports indicate that Half-Life 3 entered development around 2013 or 2014 as a procedurally generated game blending Left 4 Dead-style gameplay with scripted narratives. It was ultimately canceled due to issues with the unfinished Source 2 engine.
Recent developments have reignited hope. Last summer, datamined assets and a leak from an involved actor pointed to a new project codenamed HLX. Insider Tyler McVicker later claimed it is now 'playable, end-to-end,' with a possible release before the end of 2025.
Fan Theory on Announcement Timing
Redditor sameseksure analyzed Steam's front-page banner usage, noting Valve reserves it for major promotions like sales, events, or product reveals—such as Half-Life: Alyx in 2019. The user highlighted that announcements avoid overlapping with events to maximize exposure.
Reviewing Steam's 2025 schedule, they identified a gap from November 18 to December 8 without events. This follows Steam's unusual move of the Autumn Sale to September, where it teased, 'Is Steam crazy? They’re two months ahead of schedule! Yes, we are crazy, and yes we are earlier than usual, but also that’s intentional.'
The theory suggests an announcement on November 18, 19, or 20, potentially for Half-Life 3 or related hardware like Deckard. The post has garnered thousands of upvotes, convincing many fans despite its speculative nature.
Caveats and Context
While intriguing, this remains fan speculation without official confirmation from Valve. The company is known for its secretive approach, making such predictions a mix of deduction and wishful thinking. Time will tell if November brings news of the sequel fans have awaited for years.