Key Highlights:
- HLX has been mentioned in a recent update for Deadlock.
- This wouldn’t be the first time a Half Life 3 mention has gone by.
- The release of the Steam Machine could see an eventual release of the game.
The ever elusive Half Life 3 (also likely known as Half Life X at this point) continues to remain a mystery, with Valve dropping some hints along the way. The most recent of these would be in a datamined update from Deadlock, which is quite the curious addition.
There’s no doubt at this point that a build of the next Half Life game exists and is in active development. What remains uncertain however, is its release date and reveal, which would most likely be tied to the launch of the Steam Frame and Steam Machine.
Half Life X Mentioned in a Datamined Deadlock Update
New HLX (rumored to be Half-Life 3) mention in the latest Deadlock update. pic.twitter.com/Tqjv5OZ8Kt
— Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) February 5, 2026
Half Life X was recently mentioned in an update for Deadlock. The update has since been datamined, which has a clear mention of hlx, which is mildly surprising. The data was gathered by Gabe Follower and shared on X.
Gabe Follower has been keeping track of most valve content, and has been a generally reliable source of information thus far. That being said, this could very well mean nothing.
What This Realistically Means for Half Life
In a nutshell, not a whole lot. The fact that there is a Half Life 2 sequel in development has to be one of the worst kept secrets in the industry, with fans drawing conspiracy theories for years..
Half Life Episode 2 ended on a cliffhanger, and fans have been waiting for over a decade for some conclusion. Valve has since been dormant, choosing to focus on maintaining the Steam storefront instead, and sidelining what was arguably its most popular IP.
Also Read: All Announcements From The February 2026 Nintendo Direct
Things did take an interesting turn with the release of Half Life: Alyx for the Valve Index PC VR headset. Often mentioned as being one of the best VR games to have ever been made, Alyx is a fantastic VR title for newcomers and veterans alike, in addition to being a proper Half Life game in its own right.
Unfortunately, Alyx was not the third entry fans had been waiting for, and a proper sequel is long overdue. That being said, a Half Life game is likely in development, set to release alongside the Steam Machine.
The Launch Will Likely Coincide With the Steam Machine’s Release
Traditionally, Valve has always released a ‘companion’ game for its recent hardware. The Valve Index was accompanied by Half Life: Alyx, and the same trend is expected to follow with the upcoming batch of Valve hardware.
With the Steam Machine prepped for a 2026 release (which might be delayed again thanks to rising RAM and storage prices), a release seems all but imminent, and Valve is likely working on adding in the finishing touches before shipping the game out to the masses.
It’s also very likely that Valve did not reveal Half Life X earlier last year (more specifically, in December up until The Game Awards) since they were unsure about the release of the Steam Machine.
Every console needs its killer, companion game after all, and a third Half Life game would be quite the addition. Until it releases though, we might have to wait even longer until the prices finally stabilize.
