Valve, a game developer, has confirmed that they are actively working on developing Half-Life 3 through User Picker tool (an internal tool). The User Picker tool is used by the developer not only to manage personnel involved in the development of projects, but also to track the projects currently being worked on.
The whole point of using the tool is to avoid any member of the public, or individual who is not involved on the project, from accessing information from it. The tool should therefore not be seen or accessed by individuals who are not working on the project. However, in a rare gaffe, the company made it accessible. As a result, gamers of the series got the chance to get a glimpse of the entries for either Half-Life 3 version Core or Half-Life 3. The former might be the name of the technology utilized with the current title.
It is evident that there are less than 50 people at the developer who are working on the development of the game itself. Rumors have put the figure at 46, and no one has been able to have this number confirmed. According to Gematsu, these 46 are said to be appointed to work on the game with an additional 10 working on the Core project.
The development of the game has always been kept a secret with little tidbits about it being released through official channels such as announcements. However, the studio may have intentionally provided outsiders access. This might have been a move to confirm that Half-Life 3 can work without going through an official statement.
Recently, there was a European based trademark that had filed for this title. Although the process has not been confirmed by the Valve, rumors are that the filing for the title might be successful. Sources from inside the developer have stated that Valve has started working on developing its own hardware and operating system. This may be as a result of the trademark filing.
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