GamesFPSHalf-LifeData strings in the latest Counter-Strike 2 update hint at two new Valve games, and one of them might just be Half-Life relatedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFPSHalf-LifeData strings in the latest Counter-Strike 2 update hint at two new Valve games, and one of them might just be Half-Life relatedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Valve)
AHalf-Lifefan’s favourite pastime (aside from actually playing Half-Life games) is latching onto the tiniest hope that a new Half-Life might be just around the corner. I say this as one such eternally optimistic Half-Life fan. Which is why I started vibrating with excitement at a single data string hidden in the latestCounter-Strike 2update.
As Gabe Follower explains in the same tweet, the “hlx” part of that string is similar to the codename for Half-Life: Alyx – HLVR. But the X makes the codename considerably more vague. Could it be the codename for Half-Life 3? Possibly. Valve would certainly know that code which contained the phrase “hl3” would result in the Internet exploding, and might opt for a less loaded term.
A frankly more sensible suggestion in the replies is that the X might stand for “cross-platform”, implying that hlx refers to a PSVR 2 version of Half-Life Alyx. Really though, it could be anything. Half-Life: Xen. Half-Life: Xtreme Karting, who knows?
Mention of another future Valve game in Half-Life universe (codename HLX, similar to HLVR a.k.a. Half-Life: Alyx) pic.twitter.com/GeS8QjOfmeFebruary 7, 2024
Mention of another future Valve game in Half-Life universe (codename HLX, similar to HLVR a.k.a. Half-Life: Alyx) pic.twitter.com/GeS8QjOfmeFebruary 7, 2024
Whether or not these code snippets are part of Valve’s next project(s), I imagine we’ll hear about whatever they’re working on soon. Valve has been pretty consistent with new game releases lately, with Half-Life Alyx in 2020, Aperture Desk Job accompanying the Steam Deck in 2022, and Counter-Strike 2 last year. There’s also the rumour of anew Valve VR headseton the horizon, which, if that’s the case, might pave the way for the studio’s next game.
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