Patient Half-Life fans have been given a new date to anticipate, as a recent rumour suggests the third instalment in the franchise, Half-Life 3, is slated to launch alongside the new Steam Machine hardware in 2026.
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The claim originated from the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, where Senior Editor Mike Straw stated: “The window I was specifically told was 2026 for the Steam Machine, for the Frame, for the Controller, for Half-Life 3.” He added firmly, “At the end of the day, the game is real.”
Straw emphasized that despite previous announcement dates passing, his sources remain “adamant this is a game that will be a launch title with the Steam Machine.”
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However, the hardware tie-in presents a potential complication. Straw noted that the Steam Machine’s pricing announcement is being hampered by the “explosive jump in RAM pricing,” causing significant internal concern at Valve. “There is a concern… they haven’t made a decision on price, which is kind of holding back the announcement of anything else,” he explained.
While many devoted fans hoped for an official teaser during The Game Awards, Valve has yet to make any formal statements. Nevertheless, hope persists, fuelled by Valve’s recent update of Half-Life 2 for its 20th anniversary and prior rumours suggesting the game is fully playable from start to finish.
