Half-Life fans are once again deeply disappointed after TGA 2025. Rumors that an announcement was imminent have once again proven to be false.
Half-Life 3 was not announced at The Game Awards 2025. While this comes as little surprise to most, just as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning the GOTY title did, it is disappointing to many fans who had hoped for a reveal based on rumors. This time for real.
Where did the idea that a reveal might be imminent come from in the first place?
Supposed signs, alleged insiders
A few weeks ago, an upcoming big announcement from Valve caused excited buzz among Half-Life fans who are still hoping for a third installment. Could it be…? No, it wasn’t; what was revealed was hardware related to the Steam Machine.
Nevertheless, speculation has continued that the Game Awards could feature the most eagerly awaited game reveal of all time. Among others, Mike Straw, a journalist for Insider Gaming, confirmed that Half-Life 3 is set to be announced before the end of 2025, with a release in early 2026. However, he cannot substantiate this claim, of course.
Well, there are still three weeks left until the end of the year, after which we will know for sure whether the predictions were wrong.
The mood in the community is currently fluctuating between frustration and the typical gallows humor; the lack of a Half-Life 3 reveal is apparently an eternal meme. For example:
Will Half-Life 3 ever be released? We’ll consult our crystal ball at the next opportunity; it just needs to be recalibrated. Until then, we’re just as much in the dark as everyone else. But one thing is certain: the day the game is announced, the internet will go wild.
