Half-Life
News, coverage and analysis tracking Half-Life across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Backrooms Director Wears A Valve Hoodie To Interview And People Think He’s Teasing A Portal Movie
Director Kane Parsons, known for his acclaimed film Backrooms, has fueled speculation about a potential Portal movie by wearing a Valve hoodie during an interview. Parsons also made comments that fans interpret as references to Portal's gameplay mechanics. While a Portal movie has been in development hell for years, Parsons's strong connection to Valve and the Portal series has reignited interest.
I've got egg on my face because Steam's Personal Calendar feature has apparently been a test this whole time and is only now actually a fully fledged component
Valve has announced that Steam's Personal Calendar feature, which suggests recently released and upcoming games based on user playtime profiles, has officially launched out of Steam Labs. The feature uses data from players with similar gaming habits to recommend titles users are likely to be interested in. This marks a broader effort by Valve to enhance Steam's discovery tools and algorithmic recommendations.
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.
Half-Life inspired survival game Abiotic Factor has a packed year ahead, and it deserves even more love than it gets
Deep Field Games has revealed a packed year two roadmap for its Half-Life inspired survival crafting game, Abiotic Factor. The updates include a free Mod Editor, a Winter Update with new crafting items, and a paid DLC titled Entropic Break featuring a tropical adventure. The game has received widespread praise, evidenced by its 96% positive rating on Steam.
"Little Tim is so obsessed with Gabe" – Ex-Valve dev not impressed by Epic's updated Steam rival or…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek criticized Epic Games' recent update to its store launcher, particularly its reliance on generative AI and the company's communication strategy. Faliszek highlighted Tim Sweeney's perceived obsession with Gabe Newell and questioned the overall direction and feature set of the Epic Games Store compared to Steam's ecosystem.
Games Inbox: Is 2026 really the best year ever for video games?
Readers discuss whether 2026 could be the best year for video games, citing potential releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Ace Combat 8. Concerns are raised about the future cost of consoles from Sony and Microsoft, while PC gamers seek exclusive indie recommendations. The discussion also touches on potential DLC characters for Street Fighter 6 and the desire for remakes of classic titles like Final Fight and Cannon Fodder.
Diskutera – Vilken remake blev bättre än originalet?
This article discusses which video game remakes have surpassed their original versions. It highlights examples like Resident Evil 2 (2019), Black Mesa, and System Shock, while also acknowledging controversial titles like Warcraft III: Reforged and subjective cases like Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Yes, Gabe Newell really had a "room full of knives and blades and swords" that he learned how to make himself,…
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell has a surprising past as a collector and maker of knives, swords, and axes, according to Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le. Le recounts Newell's intense interest in bladed weapons, including a dedicated room filled with them and his subsequent pursuit of knife-making lessons. This curiosity and drive to learn is seen as a characteristic that extends to his leadership at Valve.
Gabe Newell made Steam after going "f*** these publishers" due to the broken relationship with Half-Life publisher Sierra, Counter-Strike co-creator says
According to Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le, Gabe Newell's decision to create Steam stemmed from a deeply negative experience with Half-Life publisher Sierra. This dissatisfaction with traditional publishers led Valve to develop its own digital distribution platform, revolutionizing PC game sales.
Valve devs "can't believe we get away" with such small updates for Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike,…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek expressed surprise at how little content updates were needed for games like Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike 2 to satisfy players. He noted that even within Valve, teams were often amazed by the positive reception to minor updates compared to the substantial content delivered by other Valve projects.
The internet's new obsession: Gabe Newell explaining why Valve defied big tech by staying a private company and…
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell's past comments on why the company remains privately held have resurfaced, resonating with a modern audience disillusioned by tech layoffs and 'enshittification.' Newell argued that private ownership allows Valve to prioritize employees and create value by hiring expensive talent, contrasting with the cost-cutting measures often seen at public companies like Microsoft and Meta.
2026 is the best year ever for video games and GTA 6 isn’t even out yet - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that 2026 will be the best year for video games, despite industry challenges, citing a packed release schedule including titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered. The author highlights numerous anticipated games across various genres and platforms, suggesting a peak in gaming quality.
Day of Defeat kunde ha blivit nästa Counter-Strike
This article discusses Day of Defeat, a tactical shooter mod for Half-Life set in World War II, which was released in 2003 and competed with Counter-Strike. Despite its realistic gameplay, historical accuracy, and fast pace, Day of Defeat was eventually overshadowed by larger titles like Medal of Honor and Battlefield 1942, and later attempts to broaden its appeal failed. The author posits that in an alternate reality, Day of Defeat could have become the dominant game, with Counter-Strike fading into obscurity.
Modern gamers spoiled by Steam will never understand the joy of a MegaPak
This article reflects on how modern gamers are spoiled by the abundance and affordability of games compared to the 1990s. It highlights the "MegaPak" compilations from Megamedia Corp as an early precursor to modern game bundles, offering a large collection of PC titles at a budget price. The author argues that while modern gaming offers more choice, the MegaPak era provided a unique, less noisy way to discover games.
Diskutera – Vad vill du se Valve göra härnäst?
This article discusses what fans would like to see Valve focus on next, given the company's 30-year history and its known tendency to leave popular game series dormant. Options range from sequels to existing franchises like Half-Life 3, Portal, Left 4 Dead 3, and Team Fortress 3, to new ventures such as next-generation hardware or further development of Steam and VR.
Recension – Half-Life
This review examines Half-Life, a seminal first-person shooter released in 1998 by Valve. Despite its age, the game is praised for its innovative storytelling without cutscenes, immersive audiovisual design, and player freedom. While acknowledging minor issues like pathfinding for NPCs and the design of the Xen planet, the article concludes that Half-Life remains a masterpiece and is still highly enjoyable today, having inspired numerous games and mods like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress, and ultimately leading to the creation of Steam.
Jubileumsquiz: Vad kan du om Valve?
Valve is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a poll asking fans to vote for their favorite game from the studio's history. The poll includes major titles like Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, and Dota 2, among others.
Snabbkollen: Vilket är bästa Valve-spelet?
Valve is celebrating its 30th anniversary, prompting a discussion about which of its games is the most beloved. The article presents poll results showing Half-Life 2 as the current favorite, followed by Counter-Strike and Half-Life.
Valve fyller 30 år – företaget som förändrade PC-spelandet
Valve, founded 30 years ago by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, has significantly impacted PC gaming through titles like Half-Life and its sequels, and the revolutionary digital distribution platform Steam. The company has also ventured into hardware with the Steam Deck and VR, continuing to innovate in how and where PC games are played.
30 år och fortfarande inget Half-Life 3
This article discusses the long-standing mystery surrounding the unreleased Half-Life 3, 30 years after the original Half-Life's debut. It explores the history of the series, the failed episodic continuation of Half-Life 2, and potential reasons for Half-Life 3's absence, including developer Valve's high expectations and the passage of time.
