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Project Borealis is finally coming to Steam, to give you a taste of what Half-Life 3 or Half-Life 2: Episode 3 could have been. A good time to do so, since we're coming up on the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2.

Created by a bunch of passionate fans they aim to give you a proper conclusion to Valve's popular FPS series. Built with Unreal Engine 5 they aim to create a faithful recreation of iconic Half-Life 2, although with plenty of upgrades. This is only a Prologue though, which is basically a demo.

I missed it but they did release a teaser trailer back in September:

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More about it:

The Legacy Continues

Inspired by the epic cliffhanger from Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Project Borealis represents a fan-made effort to realize a cohesive story conclusion to the episodic series. This prologue chapter invites players back into the HEV suit of Gordon Freeman, offering a glimpse into the next chapter of his journey.

A Familiar Yet Different World

Step into a Ravenholm transformed by time and the elements. The once-familiar town now lies buried under a blanket of snow, hiding the past and new present dangers beneath its pristine surface. As you navigate through this hauntingly beautiful landscape, you'll encounter some classic enemies reimagined and completely new secrets hidden within.

The developers say it will be a "condensed, standalone game experience showcasing an early look and feel of the upcoming full Project Borealis game" with an original score to accompany it.

Project Borealis: Prologue

Official links and where to buy from:

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Pyrate Nov 4
QuoteUnreal Engine 5

Instantly turned off. I mean I know this is a fangame, but anyhthing Half-Life not on Source feels so wrong.
grigi Nov 4
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I don't care what engine you use for a game, but I really don't see that it needs to be advertised in the way that it is.
It's like they are not confident in themselves, and then say: Hey look at this cool toy!
doragasu Nov 4
Valve is usually nicer than the average game developer (see Black Mesa), but maybe this is a bit too much. Would not surprise me if they get a C&D soon.
Quoting: Pyrate
QuoteUnreal Engine 5

Instantly turned off. I mean I know this is a fangame, but anyhthing Half-Life not on Source feels so wrong.

Yep! Built with the engine from the company that vowed (and failed) to destroy Steam perceived "monopoly".

Thank you, but no thank you.
GOL_USER Nov 4
I understand all the negative feelings around EU5 but my understanding is that development started on PB before source engine 2 was available. It's have been in the making for a while now and I honestly wrote it off as a project that would not be released.

I'm personally still excited that PB is coming out and look forward to it! HL is one of my all time faves.... I'll take what I can get lol.
Quoting: GOL_USERI understand all the negative feelings around EU5 but my understanding is that development started on PB before source engine 2 was available. It's have been in the making for a while now and I honestly wrote it off as a project that would not be released.

I'm personally still excited that PB is coming out and look forward to it! HL is one of my all time faves.... I'll take what I can get lol.

For any random project, I don't really care for UE5 (which as not been available that long). My first choice would be Source 2 or Godot, but for a Half Life game, considering the feud Epic Games is trying to create, using UE5 for an Half Life game is a huge misstep, for my part.

Edit: Giving money for such a game would make me feel like scoring in my own net.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 November 2024 at 2:53 pm UTC
M@GOid Nov 4
The UE5 means bad performance overall and potentially lots of bugs on Linux. Too bad they chose that path. Source 2 is quite capable and could have been a much better choice, although I feel they go to the UE road because of developer familiarity with it.
MayeulC Nov 4
Interesting, I didn't realize they were that far along. Though the trailer is about ravenholm, not about the Borealis that is supposedly stuck in ice at one if the poles.

There are also rumors that Valve is hard at work on the next opus themselves, so I wonder where how this project wants to integrate in the universe. As a non-canon fanfict, perhaps?

Now, for the real question: have they implemented real-time moss growth?
Jarmer Nov 4
Quoting: M@GOidThe UE5 means bad performance overall and potentially lots of bugs on Linux. Too bad they chose that path. Source 2 is quite capable and could have been a much better choice, although I feel they go to the UE road because of developer familiarity with it.

not to mention everything will look like sweaty plastic.
sobkas Nov 4
Are we going to hunt down someone in this game? Maybe Adrian Shepard for example?
Because who else we can hunt down?
Maybe Barney Calhoun?
If not them, then I'm out of ideas...
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