Half-Life 3 Might Feature the Most Realistic Physics in Valve’s History

Rumors about Half-Life 3 are regularly circulating, but we still don't know for sure whether Valve is actually working on the long-awaited third installment. However, an announcement from one of the developers who works on the studio's physics engine might tease some new features in their upcoming projects.

Specifically, as noted by the user X social media user scolcer_, Erin Catto—announced Box3D, whose earlier version, Box2D, was used in the development of Half-Life: Alyx—collaborated with Rubicon, Valve’s official physics engine. According to the source, with a reference to Catto, Valve has also upgraded their version of the physics engine, and it’s now called Ragnarok. Most importantly, we can expect to see its new features—both Box3D and Ragnarok—in the studio's upcoming projects, teasing Half-Life 3, as you can check out below:

Half-Life 3 (HLX) will feature the most advanced physics in the company's history.

Erin Catto (creator of Box3D) confirms that Rubikon, Valve's physics engine from Half-Life: Alyx, has evolved. Valve has developed optimizations similar to Box3D in a new engine called Ragnarok. According to him, "We'll see it in future Valve games."

After all, physics has always been one of the pillars of the Half-Life saga.

Despite Valve still staying silent, last week well-known insider Tyler McVicker revealed that Half-Life 3 is in the final stages of development, with Valve currently focusing on polishing the game. Earlier this year, it was also reported that the game's announcement was planned for The Game Awards 2025 and that the developers might time the reveal to coincide with the launch of the Steam Machine. Considering that Valve recently opened pre-orders for the device, it’s possible we're at least a little closer to a Half-Life 3 reveal.

Are you excited that Half-Life 3 might feature the most realistic physics in Valve’s history? Share your thoughts in the comments below!