Earlier this month, gamers were perplexed and intrigued by the spotting of what seemed to be a Half-Life 3 entry in Steam's database.
Half-Life 3 is probably the most sought after sequel to a successful series, and it generates interest every time a bit of info about the title surfaces. Regardless of whether they're true or false, rumors pertaining to the next Half-Life installment push fans into hype-mode.
However, something did not click right with the Steam entry. Specifically, the title lacked the dash, an element which was there for the previous titles, Half-Life and Half-Life 2.
One NeoGAF member went directly to the source and asked video game designer Marc Laidlaw from Valve what is up with the "leak."
The response of the Valve's team member was short and clarifying.
"It ain't us," Laidlaw stated.
This means that Valve, the company that put gamers in the shoes of Dr. Gordon Freeman, has nothing to do with the Steam entry. At least, this is the official version of the facts. Even if a different developer or publisher is responsible for the entry, conspiracy theorists are at work to explain what is actually going on.
They claim that Valve is taking its time to see the release of the VR headset from HTC Vice first, before making any official announcement about Half-Life 3. Rumors say this would allow them to release the long-awaited game in tandem with the Steam Machine, SteamOS and Steam Box, boosting the sales of both hardware and software.
"We will be starting the new year by making an additional 7,000 units available to developers, followed by commercial availability in April 2016," HTC pointed out about the launch of the HTC Vice headset.
The company said that it distributed headsets to developers and content creators in 2015 in order to streamline the gaming experience before the official release. The company aims to allow uses of the VR headset in other domains than gaming, such as education medical, and retail.
No official statement from Valve exists about the launch of Half-Life 3 and there is a strong chance that the title will never see the light of desktops or consoles.
But as soon as that will happen, if it ever does, we will let you know first!
