In a video interview with IGN, Gabe Newell talked about the past, the present and the future of Valve. Moreover, Valve’s CEO commented on Half-Life 3, and shared his opinion about a future Half-Life game.
As Gabe Newell said when asked about Half-Life 3:
“It’s part of a progression, right? I mean for us it really is about… Half-Life games are supposed to solve interesting problems and, you know, Alyx represents the collection of interesting problems and solutions that we can use. The big gap is because, you know… maybe we are stupid. But it didn’t seem like there was an obvious… like we don’t just crank Half-Life titles out because it helps us make quarterly numbers. We deliberately avoid imposing that constrain on how we approach stuff.
We could be right and we could be wrong, we make mistakes and, you know, we did Steam Machines, we did Artifact which was a giant disappointment… we screw things up and so for us this is actually a really powerful moment. Because this is as good as we get. And we want to know, we want to find out are we on the right track. We want people to come back and say “Oh my God, the magic is still there. These guys at Valve can take this kind of experience and build something that opens our eyes.” As designers that thrills us. As players the reviewers look at and say “No this is legit.” And if it is not, then that’s also going to be super powerful and super useful for us. I think we’ve nailed it.”
Gabe concluded that releasing a new Half-Life game is like sending your child to a college. Moreover, Half-Life: Alyx’s reception will tell Valve what will be the next-generation of changes and improvements they’re gonna make. So yeah, we may see some new Half-Life games in the future. Whether we’ll get a Half-Life 3 though? That still remains a mystery at this point.
Gabe talked about a lot of interesting things, including some AI stuff. He also talked about his past job and how he created Valve. As such, be sure to watch the entire interview. It will be worth your time!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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“comments on Half-Life 3”
Clickbait, he talked about Half Life Alyx and nothing else.
Its IGN we’re talking about.
IGNorant. It’s in the name!
If you don’t think Half Life Alyx IS Half Life 3 you’re only fooling yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I0zVX7FlvA
It’s not because it doesnt have a 3.
Just like GTA: Vice City wasn’t GTA 4. It didn’t represent a generational improvement on the previous title.
Alyx is a spin off title.
Except Alyx is a massive generational leap.
Yes, but not an evolution of the previous game. This is strictly a VR side project. The Freeman story still remains incomplete and this afaik is a prequel.
Its not a spin off, its a prequel and for better or for worse, it will be 100% canon.
I just hope they dont go pass Ep2 in the story because it would be obviously too forced.
A prequel where you dont play as Gordan Freeman. Spin-offs can still be canon. It might as well be called Half Life 2: Pink Shift.
I don’t think Valve had the balls to make a mainline Half-Life title without dipping their toes into development on something less important first.
I’m still looking forward to playing this, but I’m not expecting HL3.
Goddamn, Gaben starting to look like Santa Claus.
santa claus was originally from the middle east so no, look it up.
“maybe we are stupid”
Well ,given your recent track record Gabe…
Hopefully Alyx is a bust so you can come back to your senses.
You do realize if Alyx fails they won’t be making anything Half-Life ever again right?
And? We live in a time that a fanmade game is better than the official thing (yes, Black Mesa is fine)
And how do you know it’s better ??
And how do you know is not? in my defense, the footage we saw so far shows how much a of a gimmick VR is, the visual fidelity is subpar, the character design is worse than in HL2 (a more than a decade old game), is a spinoff…it just shows me how little confidence they have to not considered a part of the main story.
Black Mesa with all it’s faults atleast is still a game and faithful enough to the original, Alyx just ticks all the red lights in current videogames + the VR gimmick.
“An how do you know is not ?”
I’m not the one claiming it’s good or not
“how much a of a gimmick VR is”
You saw how much it’s gimmicky, i saw opportunities and a new way to experience a shooter
“the visual fidelity is subpar”
That’s not even serious, better rewatch again, can discuss with you every other aspect, but the graphics are very good, it’s a fact
“the character design is worse than in HL2”
How ?? I think you just dislike it, anyway, design is a matter of choice and i found it very faithful to HL2
“is a spinoff”
It’s an official main and canon entry, prequel doesn’t mean spin off dude…
“Black Mesa with all it’s faults atleast is still a game and faithful enough to the original”
Never said anything about it, i loved it
“Alyx just ticks all the red lights in current videogames”
It has unmatched interactivity and the level of detail is insane from what i saw
“+ the VR gimmick.”
VR is not a gimmick, this is not Kinect, it can be a very good alternative to classic KB/M, why crying about more diverse options ?
You asking already implied that it will be.
VR is a gimmick and this game will proove how is still not there to the point of not being anything else, but a gimmick.
how the graphics are very good as fact? seriously? we are talking about Valve here, not some indie developer…they atleast could deliver on that.
Now is a prequel? sure. Is as much as a spinoff as the Batman VR game.
Interactivity already showned in other VR “experiments” and games, even the PS4 can do crap like that? or you are gonna tell me that pulling woodboards out is impressive?
Diverse options? you can play this on VR only…so where are your options?
“You asking already implied that it will be”
No i asked because i don’t know, that’s why we ask questions lol
“VR is a gimmick and this game will proove how is still not there to
the point of not being anything else, but a gimmick”
Actually i’m looking at it as the game that can convince skeptical people to at least try it, Virtual Boy was a gimmick, this is not, it can expand and take game design to new areas that are NOT explorable in classic controller/KBM
“how the graphics are very good as fact”
Other than this site, which i love BTW nothing personal, all people who saw the trailer found it gorgeous, including Digital Foundry who definitely know what they’re talking about, it has very good texture work, animations and lighting and it’s filled with tons of small details, and the physics on solid and even soft bodies are impressive, the only thing that needs improvements are the special effects in my opinion
“Now is a prequel?”
WUT ?! Sorry i don’t get it
” Is as much as a spinoff as the Batman VR game.”
The Batman VR game lasts 1 or 2 hours and is nothing but an attempt to take Batman Arkham to a new market and make easy money with it, HL Alyx is full AAA game with a 15h single player campaign and HL is a very good fit to VR, Batman Arkham is not.
“Interactivity already showned in other VR “experiments” and games”
Not even close to half the level of what we saw in the gameplay videos, not the same level of polish or ambition
“Diverse options? you can play this on VR only…so where are your options?”
The title itself is the option, instead of having only classic shooters, there will be full VR shooters to people who can afford it, why not ??
But i respect you opinion, it’s just that it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to exist, actually all people i know are not interested at all in VR, too expansive and too niche and i perfectly understand, but the few people that experienced it, including me can’t deny the potential it has, and the fun it can provide
Lmao you might need to look again, Alyx source2 looks incredible.
black mesa is far inferior to the original half life.
Of course it is, why would you expect the contrary? the sad part is that for a lot of people, that would be their first Half Life experience.
your dumb it’s way better
spot the 50 iq kunt
Black Mesa is better than HL1 because it took 7 years to develop and came out on a 6 year newer engine.
You do realise that you have no idea what you’re talking about, right?
That would be you, actually.
That’s Half Life Alyx, already exists.
Yup. Better that than making it in the way where the overwhelming majority of fans wont get to play it
No, it would mean they wont make sh**ty 3d games anymore
that is not necessarily a bad thing..
“Alyx represents the collection of interesting problems and solutions that we can use”
…to help sell our new premium priced VR hardware!
Which isn’t the only nor the cheapest headset that could run HL Alyx…
100% this ^^^ , feels bad Man
It is expensive for a reason. Pretty sure PC gamers were known to be the ones who often bragged about having the best hardware when compared to consoles and mobile. Figured that same rule would apply here.
Just like they used Half Life 2 to push Steam on everyone/
That’s literally not the same thing at all. lmao
it is EXCALTY the same thing. Half Life 2 was the first game to FORCE steam on people. and yes at the time that was the attitude.
How do you compare a software to a device is beyond me. It’s just like you say the water is EXACTLY the same thing as air.
Valve uses HL as a platform to push new ideas/tech
“HL as a platform” To be honest after this i don’t know what to say…
it’s not “HL as a platform” its “HL as a platform to push new ideas/tech” don’t remove the context. as a Half Life fan it should beyond obvious to you if you look at Half Life’s history. Half Life has always been a platform to push boundaries.
Half Life was Gabes opportunity to prove that MS devs could make a game (better than anything before it) and push single player narrative in FPS games.
Half Life 2 introduced (forced) Steam, Source engine and physics in games.
HL Alyx is pushing Source 2 and VR and who knows what else until we all play it.
until we all play it…This is funny.
Whats funny is your mind is TOTALLY closed to simply because its VR. Yeah, I’m not a fan of VR either, but I’m interested in seeing what Valve can do with it, and I think we owe that to Valve at the least to at least try it before we form a strong opinion. I am not I going to try it anytime soon as I have no interest in VR, But I’m not writing it off simply because it’s VR,
Tell you something to end this… I’M NOT AGAINST VR I’m super pissed just about the idea of Half-Life is ONLY VR and probably in the future if there is a new Half-Life is also going to be ONLY VR i really hope you understand my problem is not the VR. 13 years of waiting for f sake, and also the idea that Half-Life is just made to push the technology further is just nonsense.
Hey moron, you compare a DEVICE with a SOFTWARE. Use your brain, if you have one.
I thought he died or got corona virus.
Praise the god that can’t count to 3.
The only reason they haven’t made HL3 is because there’s absolutely no way they can release a product that would meet (let alone exceed) the extremely high expectations HL fans have over HL3.
Sorry but this is some high level of bull5hit excuse. ID Soft do for DOOM what is valve never going to do for Half-Life.
Uh… what?
Expectations are insanely high at this moment in time for a proper sequel, and the dedicated fans seemingly diligaf in the face of the fact that they only have one writer from the original series on board.
Like I love shows like Samurai Jack, but hey, if it ain’t got Craig at the helm, it can jog on and burn in a fire, and I would have thought really, proper into the lore and writing, fans, would also share that same mindset, but apparently they don’t, it’s “gimme, gimme, gimme, don’t care about how it’s written”.
Sadly, I do, and well, one writer left. Naw man, I don’t care if you’re hardcore, that’s a crappy and bullcrud excuse to want a sequel, without the OG writers on board.
Just look at Dr Who and the new Marvel crap that’s churning out with “new” writers, it’s a disgusting excuse of writing. I had the exact same level for 343 when they took over writing lore from Bungie, but the sheep will lap that up, not me though.
GabeN = Santa of PC Gaming
Tim Sweeney = Satan of PC Gaming
You = Rytard of Gaming
lol
Maybe 15y ago. Past ten years nothing but making steam worse and milking money
steam worse? are you retarded? they’ve been constantly adding features over the years. it is still the best client on PC. get a clue
Did i say something Epic related? I don’t even use that crap. I use Steam daily, it’s like Whatsapp for me
you are going completely off topic lol. I didn’t mention EGS at all. my question is that how is the steam client getting worse when they’ve added numerous features over the years like big picture, store filtering, steam link, remote play, etc?
Sorry should have specified that the store is getting worse in my opinion. I think there is too much of crap like asset swaps and other games which belong to flash websites.
Still, we owe this guy the comfort, the ergonomy, and the power PC gaming has now, he gave PC it actual greatness while it was in very difficult moments in the middle/late 00s, back when every publisher didn’t gave a F about PC, not to mention the great games he directed and the innovations he gave to the whole industry in different sections, whatever you think about him now, he’s one of the most important figures of PC Gaming
That is true and i know he is, i always defended Valve and told people how they saved the PC gaming. It’s a service problem after all the famous quote from Cabe.
I expect from Valve, top notch quality games, innovative games and good service with the Steam. I don’t wan’t politics and them telling what is right or not. I JUST expect more from Valve. They started it all and now it feels flat.
Now Valve is just another hypocrite company. Valve promised us that adult games are free to come, but if it’s a Japanese adult game then it’s not allowed with various of reasons they make up why the game can’t come. Be it sexualizing women or they are looking too young for taste police in the California beach.
And then having sex scenes with minors is allowed, but oh wait they need to be homosexuals to get a free pass.
Also having the Steam frontpage promoting LGBT politics was just off. Everyone has right to be what they are, that’s what i think but openly promoting that stuff in the biggest frontpage in the PC gaming and majority of the users aren’t even from the countries who have legalized it.
Stuff like this in my eyes makes Valve and Steam less what it was in the past.
Ps. sorry if it’s hard to read, English is not my first language and i had to edit it multiple times and switch word placements.
“sorry if it’s hard to read” I understood your point nonetheless.
Sadly SJW propaganda is everywhere, and every big western company is concerned, GOG and Epic are doing the same too, there’s nothing we can do about it, the guys leading these lobbies are powerful and very influential, at this point, i’m just expecting less obvious and not too “in your face” SJW stuff, i lowered my expectation toward this, i was helped by The Outer Worlds, first i hated this game, then i played it a bit and i hated it even more, but after a moment, i realized that everything could be worse, it’s too pozzed that games i once considered SJW became more and more bearable because it can always be worse
So you’re an idiot like most Eurotrash on this site. Understood.
Sorry for having an opinion. Bet you belong to the side who wants suppress free speech and opinions and bow to the Government and corporations.
Btw please don’t call cops on me, they would laugh their assess off for your reasoning
Lmao another salty pathetic reject who literally thinks Steam has “gotten worse” when it’s improved exponentially every year for the past 16 years.
It’s really funny that Gordon Freeman himself dislikes this comment, daddy issues HAHA
Gabe loves to troll us with HL3, and Valve should make a LF3, but I doubt it will ever happen.
So in other words he is afraid that half life 3 or whatever they will name their sequel wont live up to the hype
FK Gabe, FK Valve & Most important FK VR… And if this is the only future for Half-Life Franchise Then FK Half-Life also. 4 days left for Alyx to launch and now he play the B*tch.
good change your Disqus avatar and name then
can’t stand idiots like you that bash VR and have 0 experience playing it.
furthermore, you are extremely delusional if you think all future half life games are VR exclusive
The idiot ask you a question:
why do i need to change my avatar?!
Gee Valve. Who would have ever thought that giving the very thing your fans have been asking you for FOR OVER 10 YEARS would be an actual good idea.
when u r superior then monopoly market,, this what u get. idk why many ppl still defending steam so bad when other pc stores come to compete with steam and breaking their monopoly behavior.. but i still love steam so much..
Weren’t you guys kinda excited once the gameplay trailers dropped? Where did that excitement go? Personally I’m quite anxious about this one and don’t know what to expect until Monday. Bought an Index for this and so far I’m enjoying it, a major improvement over the DK2 I still have. Been going through the past HL games again to build up the hype.
This interview was great though, it’s given me some faith in the industry again. Just seeing how Gaben thinks nowadays is a breath of fresh air honestly. Usually whenever these big names find success in what they do their mindsets can change for the worst. Makes sense why he waited so long to make another HL game but it’ll have to convincing enough to really sell VR as a whole.
It took me entirely 3 minutes of watching this interview to go from 0% to 150% need to buy an Index and Alyx. It looks incredible and as an intelligent person it’s not hard to see the places Source 2 can take us if this game succeeds.
Yeah I just think people need to give this a fair chance. The previews are already looking promising with IGN calling it a masterpiece. And I know journalists aren’t always the ones to trust but let’s just wait and see if this is the treatment games like HL needs.
There is the Project Borealis title that’s being made right now which looks to be incredibly ambitious, so people will get to compare the two if that game ever gets completed.
I’m glad to see he’s looking at Valves failures as opportunities instead of trying to defend Artifact
Indeed. He still has that perfectionist mindset that gave Valve their name. To me it looks like Valve are taking gaming seriously again. Time will only tell.
“Half-Life games are supposed to solve interesting problems…”
So that’s why you made Half-Life 2 and the episodes with interesting plots that we all wanted a closure to but didn’t get because you didn’t have a problem to solve for Half-Life 3?
he is rigt they are stupid