Half-Life 3 May Launch on Steam Machines, Fueling Hope Amid 20-Year Wait

Shares fell significantly in the gaming community as the year 2025 drew to a close without any official news of Half-Life 3, a game that has been in development for nearly two decades. However, veteran journalist Mike Straw suggested on a recent Insider Gaming podcast that the highly anticipated game could still be a launch title for the Steam Machine, a new line of gaming consoles from Valve Corporation. According to Straw, who has a long history of reporting gaming rumors from anonymous sources, the information about Half-Life 3 is not from run-of-the-mill sources that have not provided him with reliable information in the past. "These aren't like random, one-off people," Straw said. "And those sources are still adamant that the game is coming in the spring." Straw specifically mentioned that his sources indicated spring 2026 as the window for the game's release. The Steam Machine, a line of gaming consoles that run on the SteamOS operating system, is set to launch in the near future. Valve Corporation, the company behind the Steam platform, has been working on the Steam Machine for several years, and the console is expected to compete with other gaming platforms such as the PlayStation and Xbox. Half-Life 3 has been in development since 2005, and its release has been delayed multiple times over the years. The game's developer, Valve Corporation, has not made any official announcements about the game's status or release date. However, the game's loyal fan base has been eagerly awaiting news about the game's release, and Straw's comments have sparked renewed interest and speculation about the game's future. Straw's comments about Half-Life 3 being a launch title for the Steam Machine are not the first time that the game has been linked to the new console. In the past, rumors have suggested that Half-Life 3 would be a flagship title for the Steam Machine, and Straw's comments suggest that this may still be the case. The gaming community is eagerly awaiting any official news about Half-Life 3, and Straw's comments have added fuel to the fire of speculation and anticipation. While there is no official confirmation about the game's release date or status, Straw's comments suggest that the game may still be on track for a release in the spring of 2026. As the gaming industry continues to evolve and new consoles are released, the fate of Half-Life 3 remains a mystery. However, with Straw's comments and the anticipation of the gaming community, it is clear that the game is still a major player in the gaming world.