The recent unveiling of Valve’s new Steam Machine, controller, and Frame has reignited fervent speculation about the long-awaited arrival of a new Half-Life game. While industry leakers have hinted that an announcement is imminent, one compelling clue has largely gone unnoticed: the new hardware’s codename.
Valve’s new Steam Machine is reportedly codenamed “Fremont.” For dedicated Half-Life enthusiasts, this name carries significant weight. Its origin traces back to “Epistle 3,” a 2017 short story by Marc Laidlaw, the former lead writer for the Half-Life series. Laidlaw published the story on his website a year after leaving Valve, and fans quickly interpreted it as a potential plot for the unreleased Half-Life 2: Episode 3. In this narrative, the protagonist, widely understood to be Gordon Freeman, was given the name “Gertrude Fremont.”
Although Laidlaw no longer works for the company and has expressed regret over publishing the story, Valve’s choice of “Fremont” as a codename seems too specific to be a coincidence. While it could be an internal joke, it also serves as a potential nod to the franchise’s future.
This codename is the latest in a series of clues fueling fan theories. In a 2023 documentary, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell mentioned that new “opportunities” in the industry could be capitalized on with Half-Life. Furthermore, dataminers have discovered references to a project codenamed “HLX” within the files of other Steam games.
Adding to this are reports from industry insiders. Sources have reportedly informed leakers Mike Straw and Shpeshal_Nick that a Half-Life title for the Steam Machine will be revealed soon. Prominent Valve leaker Tyler McVicker has also claimed the “HLX” project is nearing the end of its development.
While rumors surrounding Half-Life 3 are nothing new, the current convergence of evidence feels more substantial than ever. A new installment in the iconic series would be a powerful launch title to showcase the capabilities of Valve’s new hardware. Although the “Fremont” connection remains speculative, it contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the long silence on the Half-Life front may soon be broken.
