Valve announces Half-Life: Alyx will launch on March 23

Half-Life: Alyx, available March 23, 2020 https://t.co/NCOLWqSp3e pic.twitter.com/Q04EZwNfBt

— Valve (@valvesoftware) February 13, 2020

“We didn’t set out to make a Half-Life game,” said developer Robin Walker. “Like many game developers, we often use our previous games to experiment with new design ideas. So in this case, we started exploring VR using assets and code from Portal and Half-Life.” But, it became clear that the classic science fiction first-person shooter “suited VR,” and the team began to beaver away on the next entry to the series. Expectedly, this game centres around deuteragonist Alyx Vance, and its story takes place between Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Through a mixture of combat and puzzles, Alyx and her father will resist the Combine invasion, and there will be “seated,” “left-handed mode,” and “one armed play” modes to accommodate accessibility options. Leaked screenshots of the game had already made their way onto the internet, but now we’ve got another official tour of City 17.

Return to City 17 in just six weeks. Follow https://t.co/Jwo28Gv5qO and https://t.co/R3DOBJdsOh for more news. pic.twitter.com/cYStPwAqI0

— Valve (@valvesoftware) February 13, 2020

Zoom in on the top left corner of the first screenshot. 

Pre-Order bonuses for anyone who has purchased a Valve Index will start rolling out the week of March 2nd, beginning with Steam VR Home environments inspired by locations in Half-Life: Alyx. We will have more information on upcoming Valve Index availability soon. pic.twitter.com/wICU1e9HhF

— Valve (@valvesoftware) February 13, 2020

Moreover, Valve will be releasing gameplay videos of Half-Life: Alyx in the leadup to launch, to “showcase not just gameplay elements, but also VR-specific elements like different movement options.” The game is available for pre-purchase with a 10 per cent price slash at the moment. If you’ve got a Valve Index, like nearly everyone else on the planet, it’ll be on the house. Plus, pre-order goodies for those who picked up its VR gear will begin to activate on March 2, starting with “Steam VR Home environments inspired by locations in Half-Life: Alyx.”