Mike Shapiro just set Half-Life fans ablaze with a cryptic 29-second New Year’s video on X, hinting that Half-Life 3 might finally be on its way in 2025. The video features Shapiro slipping from Barney Calhoun’s voice into G-Man’s unsettling tone, accompanied by the familiar ticking soundscape that screams, “You’re not done with Black Mesa yet.”

His words—“May the next quarter-century deliver as many… unexpected surprises”—have fans clutching their crowbars, desperately hoping this is more than just a clever tease. But wait, there’s more: according to reputable leaker and dataminer Gabe Follower, Valve has been running playtests for something called “HLX,” believed to be Half-Life 3. Reportedly quite far along in development, Gabe Follower even suggests we could see an announcement this year.

For a fanbase that’s turned “Half-Life 3 confirmed” into both a meme and a coping mechanism, this is the biggest development in years. Shapiro, who’s been with the series since 1998, has previously expressed interest in exploring G-Man’s backstory, fueling speculation that HLX could finally be the long-awaited continuation.

Could 2025 really be the year we return to City 17? Shapiro and Gabe Follower seem to think so—and now, so do we.