In November 2019, Valve shocked the world by announcing Half-Life: Alyx, a virtual reality-based interquel set between the first two Half-Life games. This is the first official game to explore the Half-Life universe since Portal-inspired VR experience The Lab, which released alongside the HTC Vive in April 2016. More importantly, this was the first time Half-Life received a full new entry since Half-Life 2: Episode 2 in 2007. That’s a long time to wait for one of the more story-focused first-person shooter franchises to receive a new installment, and it was only made more painful by Episode 2’s cliffhanger. Half-Life: Alyx appeared during an age when it felt like a new Half-Life game was never happening.
While it was no Half-Life 3, Alyx proved a worthy continuation of the franchise. The game put players in the shoes of a younger Alyx Vance, and followed her on an adventure through the Combine-infested City 17. The game was meant to be VR’s killer app, and it supports all Steam VR-compatible headsets, which includes the Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and all Windows Mixed Reality headsets. While limited VR ownership hampered total sales, the game still sold enough to be considered a success. Half-Life: Alyx is one of the best reasons to own a VR headset, and it would benefit the technology if it comes to other VR platforms.
Valve Should Bring Half-Life: Alyx To Other Platforms
There is no reason why Valve can’t bring Half-Life: Alyx to other VR platforms, especially PlayStation VR. Despite owning the popular PC gaming storefront Steam, Valve has not been shy about releasing its games on other platforms. Gamers around for the seventh console generation likely remember how significant it was when The Orange Box, a collection including every episode of Half-Life 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, released for PS3 and Xbox 360. Just last year, Valve released Dota Underlords on iOS and Android as well as PC.
It would be good for both Half-Life: Alyx and VR technology in general if Alyx could spread as far as possible. With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the Valve Index’s supply chain, the fanbase currently has no real path to growth. Just opening the door to current PSVR users should cause a spike in sales, both for the game and the headset. Valve succeeded in making VR’s first real killer app, and that tier of game is important for making the technology more enticing.
Half-Life: Alyx Needs to Be Experienced by All VR Owners
Calling Alyx a VR killer app is no understatement, either. The game learned from years of games that came before it, so Alyx is a collection of VR’s best practices. All guns and items work differently, but are intuitive to use both in combat and environmental interactions. Enemy variety is low, but the game continues throwing new scenarios at the player that have to be approached in different ways. The game’s ambience is also excellent, always hitting the tone it’s aiming for.
All of that is great for any game, but wouldn’t get Half-Life: Alyx far without those aforementioned “best practices” in VR. Players can choose to move through the environment with pretty much every type of movement. The game is designed to account for this, and many visual settings are available to ensure players can be as comfortable as possible. There are even settings available to help streamers keep watch over their chats. Half-Life: Alyx is an acclaimed game, and it could be the title that truly unites and expands the VR community with a slightly wider release.
Half-Life: Alyx is available exclusively on PC.