Half-Life 3 rumours sparked by mystery ‘White Sands’ project
Battle stations, everyone, it could finally be happening. Valve sure loves to tease us with games we'll (likely) never see, and while we've largely given up on the idea of Portal 3, there's still a glimmer of hope that Half-Life 3 is coming. A mere 17 years after Half-Life 2: Episode Two was released, are we finally getting a proper sequel?
Although the planned Episode 3 fell into the abyss alongside Borealis and the 2013 Half-Life 3, we memorably had the VR-only Half-Life: Alyx in 2020. Alyx didn't quite scratch that Half-Life itch, and even all these years later, we still hold a candle for a proper third game.
Half-Life 3 rumoured to be in development
Things came to a head when voice actor Natasha Chandel referenced a mysterious "Project White Sands" video game on her website. Although she didn't reveal what character she was voicing, it clearly stated this was a game for Valve. Throwing fuel on the fire, she's since removed all references to White Sands from her site.
Elsewhere, Tyler McVicker (formerly of Valve News Network) has posted a video speculating that White Sands in Half-Life 3. McVicker has collated all the recent datamine info, postulating that a project codenamed HLX is Half-Life 3, potentially being in development for the past three years.
Others have noted that White Sands is a park in New Mexico, which just happens to be where Black Mesa is. McVicker adds that HLX is a non-VR single-player game with the MVP inside a HEV suit. If that doesn't sound like the return of Gordon Freeman, nothing does.
For once, gamers seem sold on the idea - mainly because there's actual evidence instead of a simple rumour. Although one cheered, "If we somehow get Half-Life 3 leaks before GTA 6 we will truly live in the strangest timeline," a sceptic added, "I'll believe anything HL3 when I see it released and in hand at this point."
Still, even if HLX and White Sands are the same thing, it doesn't mean it's Half-life 3. We previously speculated that HLX could be a follow-up to Alyx, and after all, Valve seemingly has an aversion to the number three. Valve currently has Deadlock in the works, but it seems increasingly likely something related to Half-Life is on the way.
