Half-Life 3 is undergoing internal testing at Valve, — insider

Valve has started closed testing of the third part of the cult game Half-Life. This was reported by a well-known YouTuber and insider Gabe Follower.

According to him, in recent months, the developers have been actively testing the project under the working title «HLX» not only within the team but also involving the close circle of employees.

The insider revealed some interesting details about the technologies and game mechanics of the upcoming Half-Life 3. According to him, the studio is working on an innovative spatial navigation system.

The developers are creating a unique mechanic of moving between different types of surfaces. Players will be able to travel from flat areas to more complex environments, including spherical and planetary zones.

Valve is also improving the fire and destruction system, according to an insider. Each material in the game will have its own physical properties. For example, wood and fabric will be able to catch fire, which will allow fires to spread over large areas under certain conditions.

Technical improvements include the integration of NVIDIA CUDA cores and DLSS SDK into the Source 2 engine. This will enable real-time ray tracing to create realistic lighting and advanced object physics.

It’s been over 17 years since Half-Life 2: Episode Two — the game that ended with one of the most famous cliffhangers in video game history. In the final scene, protagonists Gordon Freeman and Alix Vance were preparing to go in search of the mysterious research vessel «Borealis, but their plans were thwarted by a dramatic attack by Alliance advisors. This scene left players in complete uncertainty about the fate of key characters.

In 2020, Valve released Half-Life: Alyx — a virtual reality prequel that received rave reviews from critics and players. However, fans are still waiting for a direct continuation of Gordon Freeman’s story.

Source: The Gamepost