Half-Life 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Half-Life 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Guns of Eschaton är ett ockult western-FPS
A trailer has been released for Guns of Eschaton, an occult western FPS that was the last game worked on by the late Viktor Antonov, known for his art direction on Half-Life 2 and work on Dishonored. The game is described as a soulslike FPS set in an apocalyptic occult wild west, featuring over 20 weapons, unique abilities, and various ammunition types. It will be available in co-op and PvP modes for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5, though a release date has not yet been announced.
Guns of Eschaton Is an Upcoming Soulslike FPS Set in an Occult Apocalyptic West
Guns of Eschaton is an upcoming Soulslike FPS set in an occult apocalyptic Wild West, developed by Eschatology Entertainment and published by 4Divinity. The game features a fragile protagonist, challenging combat with over 20 firearms, and a world shaped by occult horror and twisted mythology, with art direction from Viktor Antonov. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S with solo, co-op, and PvP modes.
Guns of Eschaton is a wild west soulslike FPS and posthumous release from the art director of Half-Life 2
Guns of Eschaton, the first "soulslike FPS," has been revealed as the posthumous debut title from Eschatology Entertainment, co-founded by the late art director Viktor Antonov. The game is set in a dying, wild west-inspired world with fantastical elements and features challenging gunplay where every bullet matters. It will be playable solo or in co-op and also offers a PvP mode.
Before his death in 2025, Half-Life 2 art director Viktor Antonov worked on one last game: A Wild West FPS soulslike…
Guns of Eschaton, a Wild West soulslike first-person shooter, has been revealed as the final game worked on by the late art director Viktor Antonov. Developed by Eschatology Entertainment, the game features deep character customization, co-op multiplayer, and combat mechanics inspired by soulslike titles. Antonov, known for his work on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, contributed his distinctive visual style to the project before his passing in 2025. The game is available for wishlisting on Steam.
The "final game" from Half-Life 2 and Dishonored's late art director has been revealed: "The world's first Soulslike FPS," an apocalyptic Western at "the end of America"
Eschatology Entertainment has revealed Guns of Eschaton, the final game vision of the late Half-Life 2 and Dishonored art director Viktor Antonov. Described as the world's first Soulslike FPS, the game is an apocalyptic Western set in a transformed 19th-century American South. It features rhythmic combat, a focus on deliberate gunplay, and will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Guns of Eschaton Revealed, Bringing Viktor Antonov’s Final Original World To Life
Guns of Eschaton has been announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. This first-person Soulslike shooter is set in an occult Wild West and is the final original world created by the late artist Viktor Antonov, known for his work on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored.
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Web port wizards have successfully created browser-playable versions of Valve's classic games Half-Life 2 and Portal. These versions leverage the Source engine and are accessible directly through web browsers, bringing these iconic titles to a new platform.
'Our game isn't gore porn' says director of game whose trailer features a zombie baby's skull being crushed and someone's eye getting scooped out with a knife
Max Verehin, CEO of Team Clout, defends the graphic content in their upcoming horror game Ill, stating it's not 'gore porn' but aims to evoke emotions similar to Half-Life 2's Ravenholm. He emphasizes the game combines horror and action, focusing on scaring and entertaining players rather than just shocking them. Despite the intense visuals, the game has garnered significant interest, becoming one of Steam's top wishlisted titles, and is slated for a 2027 release.
SPRAWL Zero Preview
SPRAWL Zero is a forthcoming first-person shooter from developer MAETH, drawing inspiration from early 2000s shooters like Half-Life 2 and F.E.A.R., combined with unique art styles. Set in the same grim cyberpunk megalopolis as its predecessor, SPRAWL, the game features a protagonist known as FIVE, who is one of several megacorp assets. The preview highlights the game's distinctive ammo system, intense combat with bullet time mechanics, and a soundtrack that dynamically ramps up with the action, all contributing to a highly engaging experience.
How to be a dad and a gamer and still get a good night’s sleep - Reader's Feature
A father of two young children shares his struggle to balance gaming with family life, finding that long, time-consuming games are no longer feasible. He details his process of organizing his extensive game library by length to better manage his limited playtime and rediscover enjoyment in shorter, more self-contained experiences.
SGF 2026: SPRAWL zero Preview—Movement Never Felt This Good
SPRAWL zero is a forthcoming first-person shooter developed by MAETH and published by Kwalee, heavily inspired by early 2000s FPS titles like Half-Life 2 and Halo. The game features fast-paced combat with mechanics like weapon swapping, throwable items, and special abilities such as Bullet Time and Gravity Shield, emphasizing fluid movement and reactive gameplay.
ILL Showcases Story and Gameplay in New Trailer, Coming to PC and PS5 in 2027
Team Clout has released a new trailer for their upcoming horror game ILL, showcasing gameplay that involves stealth and combat against grotesque monsters. The trailer also confirmed that ILL will be released on PC and PlayStation 5 in 2027. Inspirations for the game's creature design include classic horror films and titles like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Half-Life 2.
The Sunday Papers
This article rounds up various gaming-related articles and discussions. It includes pieces on the humor in Titanfall, the unique presentation of Angelique Special 2, and the complexities of trans segregation laws in the UK. Additionally, it touches upon political funding related to cryptocurrency and a lighthearted debate comparing dogs and cats in gaming contexts, specifically Half-Life 2's Dog versus Stray's Cat.
Former Half-Life 2 Writer Doesn’t Want to Pen Half-Life 3: “I Don’t Want to Touch Anything Old”
Former Half-Life 2 writer Chet Faliszek stated he has no desire to work on Half-Life 3, preferring to avoid established lore and the pressure of adhering to existing narratives. He expressed similar sentiments about other franchises with extensive backstories, including Left 4 Dead and Destiny 2, highlighting his preference for creating new intellectual property.
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek has no interest in writing Half-Life 3: 'I don't want to touch that with a…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek stated he has no interest in working on Half-Life 3 or any other sequels due to the pressure of existing lore and fan expectations. He prefers creating new characters and stories rather than revisiting established universes, finding the prospect of writing for them a "disaster nightmare."
"We tried something different": Looking back on SiN Episodes: Emergence, the Valve-backed shooter that tried and failed to kick off an age of episodic gaming
Ritual Entertainment's 2006 sci-fi shooter SiN Episodes: Emergence, backed by Valve, aimed to pioneer episodic gaming but ultimately failed to launch a new era due to financial and development challenges. Despite its ambition and innovative features like adaptive difficulty, the game's short runtime and the studio's financial struggles led to the cancellation of future episodes and the eventual sale of Ritual Entertainment. The article reflects on the game's legacy and the difficulties faced by developers attempting new distribution models in the mid-2000s.
Elon Musk considered calling OpenAI 'Freeman' because 'it reminds me of the scientist protagonist in…
Internal documents from OpenAI reveal that co-founder Elon Musk considered naming the company 'Freeman,' inspired by the protagonist of Valve's Half-Life series. The discussions also touched upon other naming ideas like 'Cogito' and involved early figures like Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.
Game History and Preservation
The difficulty of a specific sewer puzzle in Half-Life 2 has been confirmed to have been adjusted since its original release. This discussion highlights how game design elements can evolve over time, touching upon aspects of game preservation and player memory.
You're not crazy, that one sewer puzzle in Half-Life 2 really did used to be harder
A YouTube analysis by Ocelot highlights that a specific buoyancy puzzle in Half-Life 2's Route Kanal level was indeed made easier over the game's 20-year history. Earlier versions required more attempts to use floating objects as platforms to reach dry land after raising the water level. The video also touches on differences in console ports and a rare Japanese arcade version.
