Half-Life: Alyx First Story Details Revealed

Valve finally announced a brand-new Half-Life game, Half-Life: Alyx. The VR-only title marks the first new installment in the beloved series in more than a decade, and it's slated to launch on Steam sometime in March 2020. While there is still much we don't know about the game, Valve has shared some tidbits about its story.

Set between the events of the original Half-Life and its sequel, Half-Life: Alyx follows the story of Alyx Vance and her father, Eli, as they're relocated to City 17 following the Seven-Hour War. Here's the official story synopsis from the Half-Life website:

"The loss of the Seven-Hour War is still fresh. In the shadow of a rising Combine fortress known as the Citadel, residents of City 17 learn to live under the rule of their invaders. But among this scattered population are two of Earth's most resourceful scientists: Dr. Eli Vance and his daughter Alyx, the founders of a fledgling resistance.

"You and your father were relocated to City 17. In the years since, you've continued your clandestine scientific activity--performing critical research, and building invaluable tools for the few humans brave enough to defy the Combine."

According to Valve, Half-Life: Alyx will be a "full-length" game that's about as long as Half-Life 2, by the company's estimates. Valve says the title is VR-only because it affords more interactions and possibilities than a traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup could. The game will be playable with any Steam-compatible VR headset, but if you buy a Valve Index before the end of the year, you can get Half-Life: Alyx for free, along with some bonus content.

Half-Life: Alyx is available for pre-order now on Steam, and you can get a 10% discount on it if you pre-order by March 30, 2020. For more on the game, check out everything we know about Half-Life: Alyx so far in our roundup. You can also watch the first Half-Life: Alyx trailer here.