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Valve has announced Source 2 at GDC 2015, enabling developers to create games using the engine for free.
The original Source launched way back in 2004, and one of its first jobs was to power the seminal Half-Life 2. Now the developer has taken the wraps off that famous engine's successor, which inevitably leads us to wonder if Half-Life 3 is around the corner.
Perhaps the key part of Source 2, however, is what it will do for other developers. Though no release date has been provided, Valve's new engine will be free for developers to download and use when it launches.
"The value of a platform like the PC is how much it increases the productivity of those who use the platform. With Source 2, our focus is increasing creator productivity," said Valve's Jay Stelly in a press release. "Given how important user generated content is becoming, Source 2 is designed not for just the professional developer, but enabling gamers themselves to participate in the creation and development of their favourite games."
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Stelly then referenced similar recent announcements from Epic and Unity, and claims that the giving away major game creation tools such as this will "help continue the PC's dominance as the premiere content authoring platform."
Valve has had quite a GDC 2015 so far. Alongside Source 2, the company has announced a living room game streaming box called Steam Link, and has revealed more about its partnership with HTC in the Vive virtual reality headset. We've also seen more on its Steam Machines initiative, which will finally launch in November.