Half-Life 3 rumours pick up steam thanks to data mined from new DOTA 2 update

With the recent emergence of Valve's upcoming VR headset (codename Deckard), yet another rumour mill has received some much-needed fuel. Yes, it is the legendary Half-Life 3 that has eluded gamers for over twenty years and convinced the industry that Valve can't count to three.

This time, the information comes from Tyler McVicker, a leaker familiar with Valve's methodology. Tyler did a thorough data-mine of the recent DOTA 2 update that practically redefined how the game is played (once again). In there, there were hints of new mechanics we can see in HLX, the supposed codeword for Half-Life 3.

Among other things, Half-Life 3 (or HLX) will have some roguelike elements with the placement of consumable items, obstructions and enemies changing per run. Additionally, the update points at more emphasis on vehicles compared to previous titles. None of these pointers, however, say which platform the game is intended for.

Just like Half-Life: Alyx, Valve could keep HLX or Half-Life 3 exclusive to the Valve Deckard because both are scheduled to drop sometime in late 2025. Tyler opines the latter will at least get announced, if not shown off, in 2025 because one of the strings mentions FSR, something that is usually considered only in end states of development.