Modders Corey Laddo and Shawn Snelling have announced Half-Life: Alyx Levitation, a new mod for the VR title that will boast several hours of fresh story content. Half-Life: Alyx launched to critical acclaim in 2020 for Steam-compatible VR devices, debuting what many consider the best virtual reality experience on any platform to date. The experience takes place five years before the events of Half-Life 2 and places players in the role of a teenage Alyx Vance.
Unsurprisingly, a wide variety of mods have expanded upon the virtual reality experience since its launch roughly two years ago. One such user-made creation allows players to revisit the world of Nintendo 64 classic Goldeneye 007, for example. Meanwhile, another modder managed to recreate BioShock’s iconic underground city of Rapture. The recent release of a second chapter for Half-Life: Alyx’s BioShock build, along with the occasional new mod announcement, suggests the modding community on PC is not done experiementing with all that City 17 has on offer.
Modder Corey Laddo (via Eurogamer) recently unveiled plans to release Half-Life: Alyx Levitation on Steam Workshop in early Q3 of this year. Laddo is developing the mod in conjunction with Shawn Snelling, the level designer otherwise known as FMPONE who contributed to the Cache remake in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. According to the developers, Levitation will constitute a four-plus hour campaign experience wherein Alyx must investigate a “giant levitating building in Sector X.” A trailer uploaded to Laddo’s YouTube channel offers a first look at Levitation in action, complete with footage that confirms the return of the enigmatic G-Man. Check it out in the video linked below:
Suffice it to say, the work Corey Laddo and Shawn Snelling have completed on the Half-Life: Alyx mod, thus far, looks nothing short of praiseworthy. And, thankfully, the Q3 2022 launch window – which indicates a release between early July and late September – means fans of the VR experience won’t have to wait too long to try out the new fan-made campaign for themselves.
Half-Life: Alyx remains the gold standard for virtual reality games, though constant advancements to the technology have many hoping newer titles will soon begin pushing the envelope, as well. Notably, former Horizon Forbidden West designer Chris James claims PlayStation VR 2’s Horizon: Call of the Mountain could significantly elevate AAA VR titles in general. The proof will be in the pudding whenever PlayStation’s new VR headset releases at an unspecified point in the future.
Half-Life: Alyx Levitation hits PC in Q3 2022.
