Half-Life 3 teased by Gabe Newell at Valve Index launch party

Image credit: Valve (Image credit: Valve)

Half-Life 3 has once again been teased by Gabe Newell – this time at an event celebrating the launch of the Valve Index VR headset.

We’ve been waiting for Half Life 3 for a long time now (Valve’s last game in the series, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, was released back in 2007), so any potential news of the much-anticipated game will surely excite anyone who’s keen for closure on Gordon Freeman’s story.

Newell, who’s the co-founder and president of Valve, said at the launch that “Milestones aren’t really the end of anything, they’re really the beginning. So Half-Life led to Half-Life 2, Source led to Source 2, the experiments that we did with Team Fortress 2 were what enabled us to build Dota… So, maybe someday the number 2 will lead us to that shiny integer glowing on a mountain someplace… we’ll just have to see.”

Now, that’s not concrete evidence that Half-life 3 is being made, and Newell is known for cheekily referring to Valve’s long-absent game, but at TechRadar we’re ever the optimists when it comes to the likelihood of eventually seeing (and playing) Half-Life 3.

Plus, Newell wouldn’t be so cruel as to keep raising our expectations and then dashing them again just for a joke… would he?

Wire-free Valve Index

At the event, Newell also hinted that the company is looking at ways to make a wireless version of the Valve Index headset. 

“We are looking at several methods of doing an untethered Valve Index," he said. "We have a lot of ideas for kind of revolutionary things to do with the display and optical technology, and lots of opportunities to continue to improve.”

Using the launch of a product to tease a potential upgraded future version, as well as a much-hyped game, isn’t particularly conventional, but then Newell has never much cared for conventions. Let’s just hope that we may see Half-Life 3 one day, at least.

Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

Latest in Virtual Reality Gaming
Hitman's Agent 47 strangling someone while dressed as a sailor
‘Never say never’ – we ask Hitman developer if Project 007 is coming to VR, and learn how Hitman VR was fixed for PSVR 2
Agent 47 holding up duel pistols with a PSVR 2 headset outline over his head
I can’t believe it either, Hitman on PSVR 2 is actually, finally a great VR port of the World of Assassination trilogy – and my new favorite way to play the series
Meta Quest 3 in white with Batman: Arkham Shadow bundle on red background with don't miss text
Get a $50 gift card with this Meta Quest 3 + Batman Arkham Shadow bundle at Best Buy
A Dragonborn warrior, Tiefling rogue and Halfling mage preparing for battle next to a sign saying "Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked"
First Dungeons & Dragons VR trailer teases a beginner-friendly tabletop game – but I’m just begging for a custom game mode
Meta Quest 3S with Batman: Arkham Shadow banner behind it and red background with black TechRadar lowest price sign
Save $50 on the Meta Quest 3S with a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow
Aliens crawl out of the dark to attack Zula
Alien: Rogue Incursion review: superb survival horror with monsters I wish were more terrifying
Latest in News
DeepSeek
Deepseek’s new AI is smarter, faster, cheaper, and a real rival to OpenAI's models
Open AI
OpenAI unveiled image generation for 4o – here's everything you need to know about the ChatGPT upgrade
Apple WWDC 2025 announced
Apple just announced WWDC 2025 starts on June 9, and we'll all be watching the opening event
Hornet swings their weapon in mid air
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
OpenAI logo
OpenAI just launched a free ChatGPT bible that will help you master the AI chatbot and Sora
An aerial view of an Instavolt Superhub for charging electric vehicles
Forget gas stations – EV charging Superhubs are using solar power to solve the most annoying thing about electric motoring