Half-Life: Alyx
News, coverage and analysis tracking Half-Life: Alyx across the outlets.
A current Valve designer recreated Half-Life 2's Ravenholm in the Source 2 engine, and says he was "blown away…Valve level designer Chuck Wilson recreated the iconic Half-Life 2 level Ravenholm using the Source 2 engine, showcasing impressive improvements in textures and lighting while retaining the original's eerie atmosphere. Wilson expressed his admiration for the power of Source 2's level design tools, calling them his favorite to date. This fan-made recreation has sparked discussions about the possibility of an official Half-Life 2 remake.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continuesThe Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite video game comeback?Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite video game comebacks, highlighting titles like Overwatch 2, Guilty Gear Xrd, F-Zero 99, Destiny 2, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's successful transition from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch as a significant comeback for the company.
Why Virtual Reality Games Development Is Growing in the Global Gaming Industry - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThe virtual reality gaming market is experiencing significant growth, projected to reach nearly $89 billion by 2031, driven by more accessible hardware and increasing player demand for immersive experiences. Companies like Kevuru Games are highlighted as leading full-cycle VR development studios, offering expertise in platforms such as Meta Quest, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, and contributing to major titles and ecosystems.
Backrooms director says Valve is an inspiration: "Don't make it if there's not a meaningful reason…Backrooms director Kane Parsons cites Valve's commitment to creating games with a meaningful purpose as a significant inspiration for his work. He praises Valve's philosophy of not making projects without a strong underlying reason, using Half-Life: Alyx as an example of a game developed to explore new technology like VR.
What are we all playing this weekend?Several individuals share their weekend gaming plans, with "Zero Parades" being a popular choice, alongside "Satisfactory" and "Half-Life: Alyx." One contributor is also finishing up guides for "Lego Batman" content.
Half-Life: Alyx is convincing me I don't have the knees for VR gaming, or perhaps I should stop cowering behind cars quite so oftenPlaying Half-Life: Alyx on Meta Quest 2 via Steam Link has highlighted the author's physical limitations, particularly their knee issues, due to the need for constant crouching and movement in VR. Despite the discomfort, the author praises Valve's technical achievements in VR and intends to finish the game, humorously suggesting future VR titles should feature less physically demanding protagonists.
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.
We can thank a Jim Henson Company puppeteer for some of Valve's best animation workThe distinctive character animation found in Valve games, such as Portal 2 and Team Fortress 2, owes a debt to puppeteer Karen Prell, who previously worked for The Jim Henson Company. Prell, known for her role as Red Fraggle and puppeteering the worm in Labyrinth, brought her expertise in bringing characters to life to Valve, significantly influencing the animation of characters like Wheatley.
Half-Life 3's story wouldn't be 'easy,' ex Valve Writer Chet Faliszek says: "Any sequel is a disaster nightmare that I never want to do"Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek believes that creating a story for Half-Life 3 would be an extremely difficult and daunting task due to the existing lore and unresolved plot points from previous games. He expressed a personal aversion to working on sequels with established lore, citing the potential for fan backlash and the complexity of maintaining narrative consistency.- Spelhelgen är extra lång – och extra bra!Several individuals share their gaming plans for an extended weekend, with a focus on titles from Square Enix and Swedish indie developers. Games mentioned include Half-Life: Alyx, Final Fantasy IX and X, Chrono Trigger, Core Keeper, and Next of Kin, alongside Diablo 4 and Syndicate.
- On SaleSeveral PC games are currently on sale on Steam, including Half-Life: Alyx and Overcooked! 2 with 75% discounts. Fellow Traveller is also holding a publisher sale, and a golf game bundle is available with a 'pay what you want' option.
Garry's Mod Spiritual Successor s&box Launches Later This MonthFacepunch Studios announced that s&box, a spiritual successor to Garry's Mod built on the Source 2 engine, will launch on PC via Steam on April 28th. The game creation platform allows players to create, share, and play games, with plans for royalty-free Steam publishing and Roblox-style microtransactions. Prior to launch, access will be restricted to active users, with the game then costing $20.
Why Gabe Newell Quit Making Games (It's Weirder Than You Think)This article explores the unique leadership challenges faced by Valve co-founder Gabe Newell, stemming from his immense influence and the company's flat organizational structure. Newell's attempts to be an equal team member were often hindered by employees' deference, leading him to step back from direct creative input. This shift, while intended to foster autonomy, is argued to have contributed to years of project cancellations and creative stagnation at Valve, with the company only recently showing signs of renewed focus with titles like Half-Life: Alyx and Counter-Strike 2.
Half-Life 2 writer Erik Wolpaw says some people at Valve are looking at AI tools, but he's not "worried about AI taking over creative writing" anytime soonValve writer Erik Wolpaw stated that while a small group at Valve is exploring AI tools, he is not concerned about AI replacing creative writing in the near future. He believes current AI is still incapable of producing compelling storytelling and that its application in simulating character reactions in games is an area worth investigating.- Portal writer Erik Wolpaw is "not worried about AI taking over creative writing," but it could be the straight-faced foil to GTA's chaosPortal writer Erik Wolpaw is exploring the use of generative AI for NPC reactions at Valve, though he finds the technology "scary." He is not concerned about AI replacing creative writers but sees potential for it to serve as a foil to chaotic game elements like those in Grand Theft Auto.
12 GameSpot Game Of The Year Winners Are Ridiculously Cheap Right NowNumerous GameSpot Game of the Year award winners are currently available at significant discounts during Steam's summer sale. Titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Red Dead Redemption II, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are featured with prices reduced by up to 90%.
13 GameSpot Game Of The Year Winners Are Ridiculously Cheap Right NowGameSpot's previous Game of the Year winners are currently available at significant discounts during Steam's spring sale. Titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring, and Red Dead Redemption II are among the many games featured with prices reduced by up to 90%.
"You're swimming against the tide making games like this": Why more developers didn't copy Firewatch's reactive storytellingChris Remo of Campo Santo discusses why Firewatch's reactive storytelling model, which focused on player choices influencing dialogue and world reactions rather than traditional gameplay, did not inspire many imitators. He attributes this to the inherent difficulty in implementing such systems in games, the high cost of creating convincing character interactions, and the medium's natural inclination towards more interactive genres like those found in Minecraft and Roblox.
"You're not doing parkour off a roof, but the principles were the same": How the makers of Firewatch pulled from Mirror's Edge, Far Cry 2, and Bioshock to tell a new kind of story in a walking simulatorCampo Santo developers discuss the inspirations behind their narrative exploration game Firewatch, drawing from titles like Mirror's Edge, Far Cry 2, and Bioshock. The team focused on creating a grounded, human-scale story with reactive gameplay elements and a strong sense of place, influenced by their camping trip to Yosemite National Park.