Half-Life: Alyx
News, coverage and analysis tracking Half-Life: Alyx across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Half-Life: Alyx patch adds foveated rendering support a mere 6 years after the game's release
Valve has released a new patch for Half-Life: Alyx on PC, adding support for foveated rendering. This feature, which renders the center of the image at higher quality and the periphery at lower quality, can improve rendering performance, especially when combined with eye-tracking hardware. The update also includes support for the Steam Deck's Snapdragon processor.
Half-Life 3 speculation reignited by Valve dev mentioning three sweet little rumored codenamey letters amid technical chat about video game noises
Speculation surrounding Half-Life 3 has resurfaced after Valve composer Mike Morasky mentioned the rumored codename 'HLX' during a technical panel on game sound design. The mention, which occurred during a discussion about HDR audio implementation, has fueled fan theories about the long-awaited sequel's existence.
Half-Life 3 may actually be real as codename is accidentally mentioned by Valve
A recent slip-up by Valve composer Mike Morasky during a GameSoundCon panel has reignited rumors of a new Half-Life game, potentially codenamed HLX. While not explicitly confirmed as Half-Life 3, the mention by an employee, alongside previous references in Counter-Strike 2 updates, suggests a new Half-Life project is in development.
The first Wi-Fi 8 router is here, and it's banging
Asus has released the first Wi-Fi 8 router, the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro, ahead of the standard's official ratification. While its close-range speeds do not yet surpass premium Wi-Fi 7 devices, it offers improved reliability and performance over greater distances, particularly for gamers and in crowded network environments. The router is priced at approximately $999 and includes a comprehensive suite of features.
Half-Life 3 Speculation Rises Again as Valve Developer Accidentally Mentions its Codename – Rumor
Speculation surrounding Half-Life 3 has resurfaced after Valve developer Mike Morasky inadvertently mentioned the codename 'HLX' during a GameSoundCon panel. While the mention could be a slip-up for 'HLVR' (Half-Life: Alyx), the datamining community is investigating potential links to other Valve titles. Previous reports from late 2025 suggested the game was in final development stages.
Half-Life 3 re-re-re-confirmed: A Valve dev just said 'HLX' out loud
Valve composer Mike Morasky inadvertently mentioned "HLX," a rumored codename for a new Half-Life game, during a GameSoundCon panel, sparking renewed speculation about Half-Life 3. His co-panelist David Feise reacted with surprise, suggesting the comment was not intended for public disclosure, and Morasky later appeared to reference the slip-up.
Why People Think Valve Just Accidentally Confirmed Half-Life 3
Valve sound designer Mike Morasky may have accidentally revealed a new Half-Life project, referred to as "HLX," during a Game Sound Con presentation. This mention, quickly followed by a colleague's remark, has fueled speculation among fans that HLX could be Half-Life 3, a game long rumored and highly anticipated.
Valve dev mentions rumored Half-Life game HLX at a presentation, coworker immediately calls him out: "Nice…
During a presentation on Valve's audio engine, designer Mike Morasky casually mentioned 'HLX,' a rumored Half-Life game, prompting a coworker to immediately call him out. This marks one of the clearest nods yet to the long-speculated title, though no official confirmation or release window was provided.
Steam Frame review: Untethered reality
Valve's Steam Frame headset offers a compelling, albeit expensive, virtual reality experience with a sleek design and comfortable fit. While the hardware boasts impressive specifications and a user-friendly SteamOS interface, its high cost and limited exclusive software library, relying heavily on older titles like Half-Life: Alyx, make it a difficult recommendation compared to the more affordable Meta Quest 3.
This Chance To Get A Steam Frame For $1 Is One You Can’t Miss
A promotion is offering a chance to win a 1TB Steam Frame VR headset for just $1 through Fanatical's Mystery Chest Bundle. While the Meta Quest 3 is a budget option, the Steam Frame offers advantages like better weight distribution, more RAM, and eye tracking, along with access to PC VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx and Vertigo 2.
With the Steam Frame becoming Valve's new favourite VR child, they're selling off their last Index headset stock
Valve has officially discontinued the Valve Index VR kit, offering a 20% discount on remaining stock as they shift focus to the Steam Deck. The Index, launched in 2019, was notable for its introduction of individual finger tracking controllers, a feature that has influenced subsequent VR hardware like the Meta Quest 3, though the Steam Deck's own finger tracking accuracy is not quite as refined.
Steam Frame Gets VR Right Where So Many Others Went Wrong
Kurt Indovina of GameSpot praises the SteamVR headset as the best VR device he has ever used, highlighting its performance in games like Half-Life: Alyx and Hot Dogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades. Despite its high price point, the standalone wireless headset is considered a significant advancement over previous Valve hardware and a superior option to Meta's offerings, which are criticized for their metaverse focus.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Oct. 2: Steam Autumn Sale and friends
The annual Steam Autumn Sale has begun, offering discounts on a wide range of PC games, including recent releases and older titles. Several other digital storefronts like GOG.com, Epic Games Store, and Fanatical are also hosting their own autumn sales, providing various deals and free games.
The Steam Frame’s first post-launch update speeds up charging and ungarbles a mic bug
Valve has released the first post-launch software update for the Steam Frame VR headset, bringing improvements to charging speed, controller tracking, and fixing a microphone audio bug. The update, SteamOS 0.3.0, also enhances system stability and addresses UX issues related to motion smoothing.
"Alyx was a far, far more useful target for us" - Valve's struggle to get existing titles working on Steam Frame's ARM processor is why it's bundled with a six-year-old game, and I bet this isn't the last we'll hear of these chips causing difficulties
Valve's new Steam Frame headset bundles Half-Life: Alyx due to difficulties in getting existing titles to run natively on its ARM processor. Developers focused on overall Steam catalogue compatibility, highlighting the challenges of adapting games for ARM architecture, which prioritizes efficiency but requires significant conversion effort. This suggests future VR hardware may face similar hurdles with ARM processors.
Steam Frame price blamed on memory crisis but Steam Deck 2 plans unaffected
Valve's new VR headset, the Steam Frame, is launching at a high price point of £889 for the 256GB model and £1,089 for the 1TB model, significantly higher than originally intended due to global memory shortages. Hardware engineer Joy Lyons stated the RAM crisis impacted their pricing targets. Despite these issues, Valve's plans for a Steam Deck successor remain unaffected, according to software developer Pierre-Loup Griffais.
Valve considered making a new VR game for the Steam Frame, before tackling the "ludicrous" task of getting Half-Life: Alyx running standalone
Valve considered developing a new VR game for the Steam Frame headset but ultimately decided to focus on making Half-Life: Alyx run in standalone VR. This decision was driven by the desire to showcase existing VR titles and the invaluable development knowledge gained from optimizing Alyx for the new hardware. The process revealed significant performance improvements applicable to other Steam Frame games.
At long last, Valve launches the Steam Frame VR headset which comes with Half Life Alyx bundled in for $1,059 /…
Valve has officially launched the Steam VR headset, after years of rumors and delays. The headset is available for reservation with a 256GB model priced at $1,049 and a 1TB version at $1,299, both including Half-Life: Alyx. Accessory bundles are also available for purchase.
Yes, the Steam Frame price is (just) over $1k
The Steam Frame VR headset has been priced at $1,059 USD for the base 256GB model, with a 1TB version costing $1,299 USD. This high price point, coupled with the recent increase in gaming hardware costs, positions it as an expensive entry into the VR market. The headset includes Half-Life: Alyx and features advanced technology like foveated rendering, but notably does not ship with a power supply.
Steam Frame VR Headset Details - Price, Specs & More
Valve has officially unveiled the Steam Frame VR headset, set for release later this year with 256 GB and 1 TB models priced at $1,059 and $1,299 respectively. The headset features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, capable of natively running Half-Life: Alyx, which is included with purchase. It boasts 16 GB RAM, a 2160x2160 LCD panel with a 72-144 Hz refresh rate, and Wi-Fi 7 support, positioning it as a significant upgrade from the Valve Index.
