WORLDTECHValve sound designer names HLX at GameSoundCon, Half-Life 3 date stays unknown
Valve sound designer Mike Morasky appears to have mentioned a project called HLX during a GameSoundCon Q&A, according to TechPowerUp and Notebookcheck, reviving speculation about Half-Life 3 while no release date has been set.
What Morasky said on stage
According to TechPowerUp and Notebookcheck, Morasky, whose credits include Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, brought up HLX while answering questions at GameSoundCon. The reference came up during an HDR discussion, and the reports describe it as an apparent slip.
The reports add that a guest seated beside Morasky leaned over and whispered to him afterwards. Fans read this as a reminder about a likely non-disclosure agreement, though the reports do not confirm what was said.
Why HLX has drawn attention
HLX is described as Valve's internal name for a new Half-Life project, which some have theorised may be Half-Life 3. Leaks about the project surfaced regularly before the Steam Machine arrived, and the reports trace HLX rumours back to 2006.
Valve has not shared substantial details about a new Half-Life project since Half-Life: Alyx launched in 2020. In November 2025, Morasky nearly named HLX in an interview before shifting his answer to Alyx instead.
What the mention does and does not show
The reports read the remark as a sign that development is ongoing rather than a signal of imminent release. Morasky wrote the soundtrack for Alyx, which has been reintroduced as a launch title for the Steam Frame VR headset, and he says he has worked on several Half-Life entries despite appearing in the credits only for the VR game.
Recently added code in Deadlock and other Valve games is reported to shed some light on the game's possible features, if it exists. No official release date has been given.
Open questions
- Will Valve officially confirm HLX or Half-Life 3?
- Is there a release date for the project?
- What did the guest seated beside Morasky actually say?