5 of the largest leaks and rumors about Half-Life 3 explained: That’s why fans can’t let go of hope for a sequel

The legend of a possible release of Half-Life 3 on Steam has been alive for many years, and thanks to countless rumors and leaks, hope remains high among fans. We have examined the most plausible and significant ones and explain what they entail.

What are these rumors? These rumors and leaks consist of information regarding a possible release of Half-Life 3. They support the thesis that Valve has secretly been working on a sequel to its shooter for years.

Many fans also speculate every year that a sequel could be announced at the Game Awards – including in 2025. Of course, Valve has not confirmed anything, and all these rumors remain just rumors for now.

Nevertheless, we have not missed the chance to wade into this swamp of uncertainty and list the most plausible information that the communities surrounding Half-Life have to offer. Who knows, maybe one of the leaks and rumors from fans is secretly true; we just don’t know yet.

2012: Concept Art of Half-Life 3 (or Half-Life 2)

In 2012, numerous new concept artworks for Half-Life appeared that no one had seen before. These depict various scenes of a snowy landscape as well as a crash site of a Soviet helicopter. In the scenes, two unrecognizable figures can also be seen gazing into the distance while wearing winter clothing.

In addition to the winter scenes, there are also some shots of more abstract structures that could be attributed to the Xen. In these, one of the people in winter clothing is in a bubble while an alien with tentacles moves past it. Additionally, the well-known aerial platforms of the Xen are illustrated again.

Finally, there are also some drawings of Alyx Vance seen in winter clothing with longer hair. There is also one variant in which she wears her father’s vest.

According to a statement requested from IGN, these are concept sketches created in 2008 – a few months after Half-Life 2: Episode 2 was released.

Actually, Half-Life 2 was supposed to receive a third episode, but this was then canceled. It is quite possible that Valve still had the idea of a sequel in mind at that time, which is why these concept sketches were developed. Even in the second installment, there were scenes of ice and snow concerning the icebreaker “Borealis”. A return to this place would have been plausible.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.