Half-Life fans mistake vaccine company founded by FPS stan as an official Half-Life 3 teaser from Valve: "We do not work in this sector at all"
Aug. 13, 2024This is all happening because of you scientists!
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Rumors of a newHalf-Lifegame are circulating yet again thanks to a cryptic teaser - and it turns out that this supposed teaser isn’t actually a teaser at all, but rather a real company.
Half-Life 3 doesn’t (seem to) exist, but it’s produced some of the most widespread discussions of all within the gaming community. Whether it’s avoice actor’s resumeor more recently, a mysterious website, fans ofValve’s iconic sci-fi FPS games look to anything and everything as a possible Half-Life 3 teaser. That’s precisely what’s happening now with “Black Mesa” - a real company initially spotted by eagle-eyed stans thanks to its puzzlingwebsite.
Despite boasting the same name as Half-Life’s own fictional research corporation, the Black Mesa that fans discovered online is a genuine company based in Boston. Although it isn’t officially tied toValve’s shooter, Black Mesa was founded by Half-Life fan Charles Fracchia - hence the name. In aresponseto the rumors making rounds on social media, the company explains that it loves the Half-Life community.
“In the last couple of days, we’ve received a ton of messages of support and curiosity about Black Mesa,” the post reads. “It’s heartening to see that the internet can still be a place where people send inquisitive messages while staying respectful - thank you. Thank you as well to those who sent the thousands of fake inquiries on our website, they made us laugh. We loved seeing the creative messages.”
The company continues, detailing what it does: “As many of you correctly assessed, we’re actually a real company in the Boston area. We’re working hard to assure and secure vaccine and other biological manufacturing production. As much as we would be honored to be part of any Valve game - we do not work in this sector at all.” Black Mesa concludes that it’s “not secretly working on Half-Life 3” - or any other Valve title for that matter.
So no - Black Mesa isn’t an ARG for fans to solve or an enigmatic Half-Life 3 teaser from Valve. It’s simply a Boston-based company made up of “nerds working to secure the global bioeconomy.” Now, I don’t know about you guys, but I’d love to see what would happen if a questionable website dubbed “Aperture Science” randomly popped up one day. Portal 3 confirmed, anyone?
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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she’s not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she’s probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she’s spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you’ll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
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