Redmond Carolipio: Alyx has been one of the most memorable characters in the Half-Life mythos, which still has a lasting impact with its tone and style. It's about time she had a title to truly call her own, and it's a shame it's taken this long. This also has potential to be a truly signature VR title for people still reluctant to invest in VR as a go-to gaming platform.

Joseph Doyle: Half-Life 2 was one of the first games I played in the Xbox 360/PS3 era of games in the Orange Box collection. It was an awakening; the game was so surreal and terrifying, but it felt so defined in its tone and delivery. We've been left in the lurch in terms of Half-Life content for over a decade, so having anything come out is fascinating to me. Why now? To sell VR equipment? To hype the idea of further Half-Life media? I'm not sure, but I'm cautiously curious about the choices they'll make for this game, how it'll work, etc. I don't know if I have the heart to endure facehuggers thrown at my face in VR, but given the opportunity, I'd put my mind in the line of fire.

Cody Medellin: VR already has some killer apps on it in the form of Beat Saber and Superhot, but the arrival of Half-Life: Alyx will be a real test in terms of whether the public is ready for something bigger. Coming in at a much longer length than what the platform usually sees, this will be a test of player endurance and whether VR is ready for that next step into a more in-depth experience. Early reports are promising, but we won't have long to wait to see if Valve can be the one to help push VR into a brighter spotlight.

Tony "OUberLord" Mitera: I've been saying for a couple of years now, but it feels like VR has finally really started to take off.  Year by year, more developers are trying their hand at making VR games, and the result is that there has been plenty of innovation and some strikingly good games.  Half-Life: Alyx might be the highest-profile VR game announced thus far; it's a VR-only sequel to a beloved PC franchise that has often been the launching pad of PC gaming's big things.  It remains to be seen if this game ends up further pushing VR into the limelight, but Valve has never shied away from trying to raise the bar in any game that it has developed.

Andreas Salmen: Valve is finally releasing a new single-player title, and it has Half-Life in the name. That's a remarkable event in any year. It may not be the anticipated third entry, but it is exciting nonetheless. Who knows? Maybe Valve will finally create the killer app for VR headsets. The first two revolutionized first-person shooters and game physics, so here's hoping Half-Life: Alyx can do the same for VR. It looks impressive enough that it could turn out to be the experience that franchise fans and VR owners have been awaiting.