'Half-Life: Alyx' leaks tease a VR-friendly Gravity Gun replacement
Big Magneto energy.
There is no other weapon in Valve’s Half-Life series more iconic than the Gravity Gun. Gordon Freeman’s trusty crowbar might be a close second, but his glowing orange claw allowed Half-Life 2 and its two followups to become a physics puzzle adventure that defined a generation, rather than just another shooter.
The Gravity Gun is reportedly not included in Half-Life: Alyx but Valve allegedly has another, more hands-on weapon planned for its VR-exclusive: the “Grabbity Gloves.”
Players might be able to make like Magneto or a Jedi to pull distant items to their hands. YouTuber Tyler McVicker who runs the Valve News Network first caught that Valve was working on magnet gloves in September 2018 from a company data leak. McVicker noticed a new control system labeled “Grabbity Gloves,” which Ars Technica reported would succeed the Gravity Gun, according to multiple unnamed sources.
“We’re told that these are spiritual successors to [Half-Life 2’s] Gravity Gun, in terms of revolving around realistic physics,” wrote Sam Machkovech for Ars Technica. “Maybe that means we can, or cannot, grab certain items due to real-life physics systems or obstacles.”
Players could slice through enemies in 'Half-Life 2' by picking up and flinging saws with the Gravity Gun.
Fans of the Half-Life 2 even created mods to replicate gravity gloves for the title back in 2006. But the control system described by McVicker and Ars Technica suggests Valve will use Half-Life: Alyx to showcase its advanced, VR physics engine and its Valve Index controllers.
Company developer Kerry Davis hosted an hour-long presentation about designing VR object to be naturally manipulated by users’ hands at the DigiPen Institute of Technology on September 14. He specifically mentioned a “flagship VR title,” which is widely believed to be Half-Life: Alyx.
A fan-made 'Half Life 2' mod that gave Gordon gravity gloves. The 'Half-Life: Alyx' item might be a much roe polished version of this.
Heavily focusing on easy VR hand manipulation will allow the Valve Index “Knuckle” controllers to shine. The devices are capable of tracking slow finger movement, so Half-Life: Alyx’s magnetic mittens might also come with special gesture controls to, say, yank a knife out of a wall or lift a barrel up high.
The upcoming VR title is still veiled in mystery, but Valve will give fans more details on Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern. It’s unclear if the company is hosting a live-stream or if it will publish a video with an announcement, but a teaser trailer and mention of a release date window are expected.
Half-Life: Alyx is expected to only be released for VR systems… eventually.
