Valve Admits Deliberately Trolling over Half-Life 3

Half-Life 3. By now, you’d think we’d be sick of the sight of that title. Its release – or lack of – has been teased for over a decade. In the meantime, we’ve been treated to numerous hoaxes suggesting that the third game in this lauded FPS franchise is en route – Valve’s mischief-making over the non-existent game is well-documented – which the community has lapped up.

The most recent gag pulled by Valve staff was a visible Half-Lie 3 desktop icon in the background of a photo of someone testing out the HTC Vive. The photo, taken last year (below), but was picked up a few weeks ago after eagle-eyed Half-Life fans spotted the familiar symbol. Valve’s initial response to find this was predictably vague and non-committal, but then CEO Gabe Newell chimed in. Newell may as well have rolled his eyes and said, “You’ve been had. Again,” such was the scorn in his statement, aimed at his staff.

“It’s news to us that the picture is out, but it’s also news that this icon is on the screen,” Greg Coomer, Valve’s communications specialist, told VentureBeat when asked about the icon. “Honestly, those icons have floated around this office for quite a while. None of us are going to be able to tell you what that is or why that’s there.”

“Some of the more childish members of our company have worn Half-Life 3 T-shirts to GDC,” Newell added.

Valve is currently developing three VR games, but Newell is keeping details of the titles close to his chest.

“I’m not going to say anything about the three specific titles,” Newell said.