Half-Life 3 is reportedly in early playtesting at Valve, marking a major milestone in the long-awaited sequel’s development.
It’s been over 17 years since Half-Life 2: Episode Two left players hanging on one of gaming’s most infamous cliffhangers. The promise of a sequel, unofficially dubbed Half-Life 3, has felt more like a myth than a reality.
Over the years, fans have clung to rumors, leaks, and whispers about Valve’s plans, but nothing concrete has emerged—until now.
Recent developments have once again ignited hope for the long-anticipated sequel. Valve has reportedly started external playtests for Half-Life 3, a claim made by well-known YouTuber and insider Gabe Follower.
Half-Life 3 Leak Suggests Valve has Started Playtesting with Friends and Family
The latest leak from Gabe Follower comes after months of speculation and data leaks surrounding Valve’s projects. In a video published today, he shared that Half-Life 3, or its working title “HLX,” is now being playtested by Valve employees’ friends and family members.
This stage of testing, while still limited, is critical for evaluating the game’s progress and resolving issues before broader public announcements. “According to my information, in the last few months, Valve has started active HLX playtests. Now not only with people from other teams, but also friends and family members, Gabe Follower said in the video.
“If it survives the New Year holidays and there are no serious problems during these playtests with the close circle of people, then the development will continue at the right pace, and the announcement in 2025 may turn out to be quite possible.”
The video wasn’t just about playtests. Gabe Follower dropped several intriguing tidbits about Half-Life 3’s potential mechanics and Source 2 engine upgrades. One of the most interesting things involved the game’s use of gravity mechanics.
Valve seems to be exploring innovative ways to handle player navigation in altered gravity zones. This could include transitioning between flat surfaces and more complex environments like spherical or planetary ones, adding a unique layer to gameplay.
As Gabe Follower described: “HLX will feature mechanics involving navigation in altered gravity,” including transitions “from flat surfaces to spherical or planetary” environments.
Another exciting detail revolves around fire and destruction systems. Valve appears to be enhancing the interactivity of the environment by implementing material properties that allow objects and surfaces to catch fire dynamically.
These properties are reportedly tied to specific materials, such as wood or fabric, meaning entire areas could potentially ignite in the right circumstances. On the technical side, Valve is also integrating advanced graphics technologies like NVIDIA’s CUDA cores and DLSS SDK into the Source 2 engine.
These advancements suggest Half-Life 3 could include real-time ray tracing for improved lighting and advanced physics calculations for a more immersive experience. According to Gabe Follower:
“The developers have added NVIDIA Cuda, DesignWorks, and DLSS SDKs to the file, listing all third-party licenses and technologies. The integration of CUDA cores could be related to several things, but the most obvious is real-time raytracing, especially considering the additional mention of DLSS for image upscaling and optimization.”
The video also mentioned an improved hair simulation system, which is still in its early stages of development. This feature includes parameters for hair color, density, and physics-based movement, indicating a push for greater realism in character design.
This isn’t the first time Half-Life 3 has found its way into the headlines. Over the years, leaks have hinted at everything from voxel-based destruction mechanics to expansive yet linear levels designed for storytelling. While many of these claims remain speculative, they contribute to the growing image of what Half-Life 3 might be.
With external playtesting underway, it seems like Valve is finally moving closer to giving us the sequel fans have waited nearly two decades for. But as always with Valve, nothing is certain until it’s officially announced.
As with any rumor, we suggest taking everything with a grain of salt until officially confirmed. Watch the full video below.
What are your thoughts on the reported playtests and the features described in the latest leaks? Let us know in the comments!
