The gaming community continues to hold its breath for a major reveal from Valve.
GamesIndustry.biz recently consulted a panel of prominent analysts to discuss their projections for the state of the interactive entertainment industry in 2026.
Emmanuel Rosier of Newzoo anticipates that Valve will “send shockwaves through the industry” next year by finally announcing Half-Life 3:
Valve is poised to reclaim the center stage by officially unveiling Half-Life 3—not as a simple exercise in nostalgia, but as a definitive statement on the future of high-end PC gaming. This announcement will serve as more than just a game reveal; it will be a strategic showcase of platform dominance and technological leadership.
Newzoo also suggests that the massive capital being funneled into artificial intelligence will gradually heighten the entry requirements for gaming. The expansion of AI tech is expected to consume vast amounts of memory and production capacity, driving up hardware costs. This trend may force developers to “scale back their technical aspirations,” as the most resource-intensive titles risk targeting an increasingly niche audience.
Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis predicts the debut of a new Steam Machine in 2026, estimating a price point between $700 and $800 for the entry-level model. He believes Valve could successfully ship several million units within a year, potentially outperforming the Steam Deck’s initial market reception.
Furthermore, the analyst posits that Grand Theft Auto VI will see no further delays, positioning Rockstar’s latest title to become the “most successful entertainment launch in history” in terms of revenue generated during its opening months.
Source: iXBT.games