A new Half-Life game is in development, Valve confirms

We had heard whispers, and it turns out the rumors were true – game developer Valve is set to release Half-Life: Alyx.

In a tweet from the official Valve Twitter account, the company described the upcoming release as its “flagship VR game”.

So far, information about the new game is scant, but Valve will unveil further details about Half-Life: Alyx this Thursday, November 21 at 10am PT (6pm GMT / Friday, November 22 at 5am AEDT).

Those familiar with the Half-Life series may recognize the name Alyx from the game’s universe.

Alyx Vance is a young woman and prominent character who first appeared in Half-Life 2, where she was a major player in the human resistance against the Combine – and a close friend of the game’s main protagonist, Gordon Freeman.

Talk of a new Half-Life title kicked off when an alleged interview transcript between Valve executives was leaked online.

A quote from the leaked transcript credits a ‘Geoff’ – believed to be games broadcaster Geoff Keighley – as stating: "March 2020, 'Half-Life: Alyx' comin' out."

The same transcript also suggested the VR game would be revealed at The Game Awards on December 12 – however Valve’s new tweet suggests it may be unveiled much sooner than anticipated.

The announcement of a ‘flagship’ VR game follows Valve’s release of its own dedicated VR headset – the Valve Index – earlier this year.

When the Index was first announced, the company stated it would be releasing a flagship VR game before the end of the year – and it certainly seems like Half-Life: Alyx is it. Whatever the case, we’ll know more this Thursday.