Valve Developer Appears to Reveal Half-life 3 Codename on Stage
WHO:
Ars Technica - A Valve sound designer said “HLX” publicly during a conference; Ars Technica described the speaker as a sound designer.
Kotaku - Valve composer Mike Morasky spoke during a developer panel. Valve sound designers David Feise and Carlye Nyte also participated.
Kotaku - Tyler McVicker, described as a longtime Valve reporter, spotted the panel remarks.
Kotaku - Feise was next to Morasky and seemingly whispered, “Nice work,” after Morasky said “HLX.”
Kotaku - Geoff was mentioned in connection with a trailer Valve reportedly owes him.
WHAT:
Eurogamer.net - Valve previously announced *Half-Life 2: Episode 3* as part of a planned trilogy, but abandoned the project around 2009.
Eurogamer.net - Gabe Newell confirmed *Half-Life 3* had been in development around 2013/2014 before Valve scrapped it because it was built on the unfinished Source 2 engine.
Eurogamer.net - References to the project codename “HLX” began appearing in Valve-related files around 2021.
Eurogamer.net - In 2024, Tyler McVicker said datamined findings pointed to a new “fully-fledged Half-Life game”; Eurogamer.net also reported a leak from an actor likely involved in the project.
Eurogamer.net - Morasky’s description of HLX as having its own HDR version suggested it was a standalone project requiring music.
Ars Technica - A Valve developer let a Half-Life-related codename slip at a conference.
Kotaku - While answering a question about Source 2’s sound system, Morasky said: “And in fact, I think Deadlock has their own version of HDR. You know, HLX has its own version, so on and so forth.”
Kotaku - “HLX” is not the name of an officially announced Valve game; fans believe it is the internal codename for the unannounced next mainline Half-Life game, believed to be Half-Life 3.
Kotaku - Kotaku said HLX has not been officially announced, teased, or hinted at by Valve.
Kotaku - Fans have tracked HLX through more than five years of datamining Valve games and have compiled information about the reported game.
Kotaku - Morasky has previously mentioned working on more than one Half-Life game; he was officially credited with work on *Half-Life: Alyx* in 2020.
Kotaku - McVicker reported that HLX was playable from start to end.
Kotaku - Kotaku said Valve might ignore the incident or someone might say Morasky meant *Half-Life: Alyx* and misspoke.
WHERE:
Kotaku - The remarks were made on stage at GameSoundCon during a panel about how sound and music work in Source 2.
WHEN:
Eurogamer.net - *Half-Life 2: Episode 2* was released 19 years before the article.
Kotaku - McVicker reported in 2025 that HLX was playable from start to end.
WHY:
Kotaku - The panel question concerned Source 2’s open, flexible sound system and how it connects with other parts of the engine.
HOW:
Kotaku - Morasky mentioned HLX while comparing the games’ versions of HDR.
Kotaku - The panel included Valve sound designers David Feise and Carlye Nyte, as well as Morasky.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 02:10 UTC)
Valve composer Mike Morasky appeared to let slip a reference to “HLX,” a codename fans associate with an unannounced Half-Life game. Speaking at GameSoundCon during a panel on sound in the Source 2 engine, Morasky compared how different games handle HDR, saying that HLX has its own version. Valve sound designers David Feise and Carlye Nyte joined him on the panel, and Feise was seen seemingly whispering, “Nice work,” after the remark. Valve has not announced, teased, or confirmed a game called HLX. Fans have tracked the codename in Valve-related files for years, while longtime Valve reporter Tyler McVicker has said the project was playable from start to finish. Morasky was credited on Half-Life: Alyx and has previously mentioned working on multiple Half-Life games. The series’ next mainline installment remains unconfirmed, and the remark could have been a slip or a reference to another project.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 19:13 UTC)
A Valve composer appeared to let a mysterious Half-Life codename slip during a public panel, renewing attention on an unannounced project. Mike Morasky was discussing Source 2’s flexible sound system at GameSoundCon when he compared how Deadlock and “HLX” handle HDR. Fans believe HLX is the internal name for the next mainline Half-Life game, possibly Half-Life 3, but Valve has never officially announced or teased it. Sound designers David Feise and Carlye Nyte also joined Morasky onstage. Feise appeared to whisper “Nice work” after Morasky said HLX, while longtime Valve reporter Tyler McVicker noticed the exchange. Fans have tracked the codename through years of game data, and McVicker has reported that the project is playable from beginning to end. Morasky has previously discussed working on multiple Half-Life games and was credited on Half-Life: Alyx. Valve could leave the remark unexplained, or say Morasky misspoke.