Insider suggests Half-Life 3 could have a March release date as a Steam Machine launch title
Valve recently announced a trio of new hardware, including the Steam Frame VR headset, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller. However, some fans have also been desperate for a long-awaited Half-Life 3 reveal. Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming now hints that the game will debut with the Steam Machine in March 2026.
The prediction surfaced during a podcast that included Henderson and Mike Straw. First, one of Straw’s sources suggested that a major announcement won’t happen at The Game Awards on December 11th. Even so, Henderson added that the next major Valve news will likely involve a Steam Machine launch title. The insider “heard there's a big game coming out in March” that fans have been anticipating.
Despite no confirmed title to accompany Valve’s hardware, rumors persist about a Half-Life 3 release date. Nick “Shpeshal Nick” Baker of XboxEra is one of several sources that predict more developments will soon follow. The Game Awards now seem less probable as the time and place. Still, based on changes spotted on the Steam site, other gamers are watching November 18th for any activity.
Why has Half-Life 3 still not appeared?
The path to a potential Half-Life 3 has been a long and bumpy road. A sequel to Half-Life 2 was in the works in 2013, but it never materialized. Half-Life: Alyx then arrived in 2020 as a VR experience. It was originally going to ship alongside the Index VR headset in 2019, but suffered a delay. Since then, dataminers leaked evidence of another game in development, often code named to as HLX.
Valve has clarified that it has no other virtual reality titles planned for release. That makes HLX more likely to be a Half-Life 2 follow-up intended for the Steam Machine, rather than the Frame.
Henderson referred to a game that could be a Steam Machine exclusive. That said, rather than only being playable on the cube, it’s more realistic that Half-Life 3 would be available on Steam. Regardless, as a title PlayStation and Xbox would covet, it would be an incentive to purchase the new console contender.
