Valve developer mentions HLX, rumored Half-Life project, at conference

A Valve audio veteran has mentioned a project called HLX in public, and fans are treating it as a hint at a new Half-Life game. Mike Morasky did so during a Q&A at GameSoundCon, a conference for game audio. Valve has not said what HLX is, and the idea that it is Half-Life 3 remains a rumor.

According to GamesRadar+, the panel was titled “Valve’s Approach to an Open and Flexible Audio Engine” and also featured sound designers David Feise and Carlye Nyte. Morasky was asked about voice count and began describing how a group system feeds into Valve’s high dynamic range (HDR) audio setup. “In fact, I think Deadlock has their own version of HDR,” he said, then added, “HLX has its own version. So on and so forth.”

A colleague seated beside him can be heard saying “nice work” right after. GamesRadar+ identifies the speaker as Feise, who then steered the discussion back to the question and said groups deserved a separate one-hour talk. GameSpot reports that the same colleague also said, “Good job, you only said HLX once.” IGN notes that Morasky nearly stopped talking after saying the name, and that some fans read the colleague’s remark as a rebuke.

Why it matters

HLX has circulated for years as a codename. Dataminers found references to it in Valve-related files after the 2020 release of Half-Life: Alyx, whose ending set up a possible follow-up. IGN says no one has tied HLX to any other known Valve project, which is why many assume it is Half-Life related. GamesRadar+ says Valve has mentioned it in passing before, but calls this possibly the clearest nod yet.

IGN reads the remark as a sign that HLX is still in active development. That is an interpretation rather than a Valve statement. Morasky offered no description of the project beyond its audio system having its own HDR implementation.

Morasky has been linked to Half-Life hints before. GamesRadar+ recalls a 2023 interview in which he referred to “both the Half-Life games” he had worked on, then corrected himself with “well, game.” Officially he has credits only on Half-Life: Alyx within the series. His other work includes Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, Portal 2 and Counter-Strike 2, GameSpot notes.

GameSpot also cautions that excitement over tiny scraps of evidence for a new Half-Life has become something of an annual tradition, usually ending without an announcement.

What we don’t know yet

Valve has not said whether HLX is a Half-Life game, let alone Half-Life 3, or when it might be shown. IGN points out that Alyx went from announcement to release quickly, so a similar rollout is possible, and floats The Game Awards as a venue while calling that a longshot. GamesRadar+ says Morasky stopped short of promising a new Half-Life game anytime soon.