Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Half-Life: Alyx.
Valve's first return to the Half-Life series in almost 13 years came in the form of Half-Life: Alyx's ending shows Valve isn't done making Half-Life games. The question is whether the next game in the franchise will be Half-Life: Alyx 2 or the long-awaited Half-Life 3.
Rather than being a true sequel to Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Half-Life: Alyx takes place between Half-Life and Half-Life 2. It still deals with story beats further in the future, however, leaving things open for new games in the Half-Life series. Valve itself has said Half-Life: Alyx is the beginning of more Half-Life content, so it's safe to say there's more to come (hopefully with a shorter wait time).
The big question, though, is whether the next Half-Life game will be another spin-off, such as a Half-Life: Alyx 2, or a more direct sequel to the mainline story. Here's everything known so far about what's next for Valve's Half-Life.
Half-Life: Alyx 2 Release Date - When Is The Next Game Coming?
It's far too soon to say exactly when the Half-Life: Alyx 2 or Half-Life 3 release date will be, but information previously revealed by Valve gives fans a few hints. Valve developed by Valve's largest team ever. That means, if the next game is also VR but is made by a smaller team, it could take longer.
Half-Life: Alyx 2 Gameplay - Will It Be VR?
In an interview with Sold-out Valve Index VR headsets indicate the company has seen at least some success in that effort, but VR is still relatively cost-prohibitive for many gamers. If the next game turns out to be a VR-only Half-Life 3 rather than another spin-off, many fans would likely be quite upset.
Half-Life Alyx 2 Story - Will It Be Half-Life 3?
All signs point to the next game being Half-Life 3 rather than Half-Life: Alyx 2. Half-Life: Alyx's ending sets up a real Half-Life 3 perfectly, changing events at the end of Half-Life 2: Episode Two and even putting the player in Gordon Freeman's shoes during the post-credits scene. That doesn't mean there's not room for a Half-Life: Alyx 2 side story, however. The Half-Life: Opposing Force and Half-Life: Blue Shift expansions both told stories that ran parallel to the original game, adding more context to Half-Life's events and world. Even with Alyx Vance put into stasis at the end of Half-Life: Alyx and Eli Vance apparently wanting to rescue her, there's still a chance Valve could one day develop a game that tells the events of Half-Life 3 - or whatever game comes next - through her eyes, as well.
Half-Life: Alyx released for PC on March 23, 2020.
