The Alters vs Half-Life: Alyx

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: A desolate, alien planet
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass
• Unique Feature: A unique blend of base-building survival with a deep, psychological narrative about managing alternate versions of oneself, each with distinct personalities and skills.

• Perspective: First-Person (VR)
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only, with extensive mod support via Steam Workshop)
• Setting: City 17 & surrounding areas, Earth (Between Half-Life 1 & Half-Life 2)
• Platforms: PC (Windows - SteamVR Compatible)
• Unique Feature: Flagship VR Title, Gravity Gloves Interaction, Unprecedented VR Immersion & Detail, Continuation of Half-Life Story, Source 2 Modding Tools.

• The Alters: The Alters are the core companions and crew. They are not passive followers but fully interactive characters with their own skills, needs, and personalities. They perform tasks assigned by the player, such as mining, cooking, researching, and repairing, but also require social interaction and management to prevent conflicts and maintain morale.
  Human (Alternate Versions)

• Russell (Via Radio Comms): While not physically present, Russell is Alyx's constant companion via radio communication. He provides mission objectives, guidance, technical support, lore exposition, and humorous commentary throughout the game. He is crucial for narrative progression and player guidance.
  Human
• None (Physical AI Combat Companions): Alyx undertakes her physical journey through City 17 alone. She does not have any AI-controlled combat companions that follow her or fight alongside her in the traditional sense, emphasizing her vulnerability and resourcefulness in the VR environment.

• Personal Logs: Datapads and audio logs left behind by the original, deceased crew members of the crashed ship. These provide backstory on the mission and the events leading to the crash.
• Geological Samples: Unique mineral or organic samples found during exploration. These can be analyzed in the Research Lab to unlock new technologies or provide insight into the planet's ecosystem.

• Resin: Small, orange, cylindrical pieces of Combine material found scattered throughout all levels, often in crates, shelves, or hidden nooks. Collected and used at Combine Fabricator stations to upgrade Alyx's three main weapons (Pistol, Shotgun, SMG).
• Ammo (Pistol Clips, Shotgun Shells, SMG Power Cells): Found in Combine supply crates, on defeated enemies, or in the environment. Essential for combat. Alyx can store a limited amount on her person and in her backpack.
• Health Syringes: Medical items that restore Alyx's health. Found in medical kits, bathrooms, or sometimes dropped by Combine medics. Stored in wrist slots for quick access.
• Combine Grenades: Standard fragmentation grenades used by the Combine. Can be found in the environment or taken from defeated enemies. Stored in wrist slots.
• Grub Nests / Antlion Grubs (Healing Items - Minor): In Xen-infested areas, Alyx can find Antlion grubs in nests. Crushing them provides a small amount of healing. A nod to Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
• Vodka Bottles (For Jeff sequence): Specific to Chapter 7: Jeff. Vodka bottles are used as throwable distractions to lure the sound-sensitive creature Jeff away from Alyx's path.
• Battery Cells (For Multi-Tool Puzzles): Small cylindrical batteries that must be found and inserted into specific slots to power up doors, lifts, or other machinery as part of environmental puzzles solved with the Multi-Tool.
• Hidden Gnome Chompski (Easter Egg): A single, well-hidden garden gnome. Finding it and carrying it to a specific later point in the game unlocks an achievement, referencing a long-running Valve gag.

• Existentialism
• Identity
• Regret
• What If Scenarios
• Psychological Drama
• Survival
• Resource Management
• Interpersonal Dynamics
• Sci-Fi
• Isolation

• Alien Occupation & Resistance
• Father-Daughter Relationship
• Hope in Oppression
• Scientific Discovery & Peril
• Body Horror (Headcrabs
• Xen Creatures)
• Totalitarian Control (The Combine)
• VR Immersion
• Prequel Story
• Environmental Storytelling

• Pistol (USP Match / Alyx's Pistol): Handgun (Semi-Automatic)
  Alyx's starting weapon. A reliable semi-automatic pistol. Can be upgraded with a reflex sight, laser sight, extended magazine, and a burst fire module.
• Shotgun (Modified Winchester 1887 / 'Old Reliable'): Shotgun (Pump-Action/Lever-Action Hybrid)
  A powerful close-quarters weapon. Can be upgraded with a laser sight, double shot capability (fires two shells at once), and a grenade launcher attachment (fires explosive grenades).
• SMG (Combine Pulse Submachine Gun): Submachine Gun (Automatic)
  A rapid-firing Combine weapon. Can be upgraded with an extended magazine, laser sight, and reflex sight. Effective against groups or for sustained fire.
• Gravity Gloves ('Russells'): Utility Tool / Pseudo-Weapon
  Not a traditional weapon, but Alyx's primary tool for interacting with the environment. Allows her to target and flick distant objects (ammo, Resin, health syringes, physics objects) into her hands. Can be used offensively by throwing explosive objects or heavy items at enemies.
• Grenades (Combine Grenades): Throwable Explosive
  Standard fragmentation grenades found in the environment or dropped by Combine soldiers. Can be stored in wrist slots and thrown physically by the player.
• Multi-Tool: Utility Tool (Hacking/Puzzle Solving)
  A handheld device used to hack Combine interfaces, disable force fields, solve electrical circuit puzzles by redirecting power, and scan objects for information.
• Xen Grenades / Snarks (Implied/Contextual): Organic Throwable (From Xen Creatures)
  Players can often find and throw explosive Xen flora (like 'Boom Blobs') or potentially use Snark-like creatures found in specific containers, though these are environmental interactions rather than equippable weapons.

• Worker Suit: Jan and his Alters wear a standard worker suit. While not 'armor' in a combat sense, it is essential for survival outside the base. It has a limited energy supply that powers tools and must be recharged with batteries. Upgrades likely focus on improving its efficiency or radiation resistance.

• No Equipable Armor System: Alyx Vance does not have an equipable armor system where players can find or upgrade different pieces of armor for stat boosts. Her survivability is based on her base health, which can be restored using Health Syringes found in the environment or from Health Stations. Player skill in combat, using cover effectively, and managing resources are key to survival.
• Health Syringes & Health Stations: Health Syringes are consumable items stored in Alyx's wrist slots that provide instant healing. Wall-mounted Health Stations can also be found, allowing Alyx to restore her health by interacting with them (often requiring a puzzle or power to activate).

• Alyx Vance's Standard Attire: Alyx wears a consistent outfit throughout the game, consisting of a practical jacket (often with a Black Mesa logo reference), shirt, pants, and her iconic fingerless gloves which house her health/ammo display and are part of the Gravity Glove system. There are no player-controlled clothing customization options for Alyx; her appearance is fixed for the narrative.
• Gravity Gloves ('Russells'): These are a key piece of Alyx's gear, not clothing in the traditional sense, but visually distinct. They are black and yellow and integral to her ability to interact with the VR world. They are not customizable in appearance.

Progression is tied to base expansion and research. Creating Alters with specific skills (e.g., Scientist, Technician, Miner) unlocks new capabilities. The Scientist Alter can work in the Research Lab to unlock new technologies, base modules, and crafting recipes. The Technician can repair the base more efficiently. Upgrades focus on improving the base's efficiency, resource production, and survivability against environmental threats.

The game is structured across several large, distinct maps that Jan must traverse in sequence. Each map represents a different biome of the alien planet, presenting unique environmental hazards, resources, and exploration challenges. The gameplay is not a seamless open world but a series of large, explorable zones that the mobile base travels between.

• None (Player Controlled for General Traversal)
  Alyx Vance traverses all environments on foot using various VR locomotion options (Teleport, Shift, Continuous). There are no player-controlled vehicles like cars, bikes, or aircraft for general navigation in the game.
• Combine Razor Train (Contextual / Environmental): Mass Transit / Enemy Transport
  The iconic Combine Razor Trains are present in City 17's environment and feature in some scripted sequences or as background elements, but Alyx does not pilot or directly control them.
• Lifts & Elevators (Environmental): Mechanical Traversal
  Various lifts and elevators are found within levels, providing vertical traversal. Alyx interacts with them to move between floors or different sections of a facility.

• Jan Dolski (The Player): Protagonist / Base Leader
  The original Jan, a simple worker whose choices led him to this mission. He is the player character and is responsible for creating and managing his alternate selves.
• Jan Technician: Alter / Engineer
  The first Alter created. Pragmatic and skilled with machinery, he is essential for base repairs but has a cynical and sometimes abrasive personality.
• Jan Scientist: Alter / Researcher
  A career-driven and ambitious Alter who excels at research, unlocking new technologies for the base. His ambition can lead to friction with the other Jans.
• Jan Miner: Alter / Resource Gatherer
  A hardy Alter with skills in geology and mining, making him more efficient at extracting resources from the planet's surface.
• Jan Botanist: Alter / Biologist
  An Alter with a green thumb, skilled in cultivating food within the base. He is crucial for upgrading the crew's diet from nutrient mush to proper meals, significantly boosting morale.
• Jan Doctor: Alter / Medic
  An Alter with medical expertise who can work in the Infirmary to drastically speed up the healing of injured or irradiated Alters.

• Alyx Vance: Protagonist / Resistance Fighter
  The main playable character. A resourceful and skilled member of the human resistance against the Combine. Daughter of Dr. Eli Vance. She is determined, witty, and possesses a strong moral compass. The game explores her capabilities and resolve before she meets Gordon Freeman.
• Eli Vance: Supporting Character / Resistance Leader / Scientist
  Alyx's father, a brilliant scientist formerly of Black Mesa and a key leader in the resistance. His capture by the Combine at the start of the game is the catalyst for Alyx's mission.
• Russell: Ally / Resistance Technician & Inventor
  A quirky and humorous resistance member who communicates with Alyx via radio throughout her journey. He provides technical support, guidance, and invents crucial gear for Alyx, including the Gravity Gloves (which he calls 'Russells').
• Combine Overwatch (Various Voices/Units): Primary Antagonistic Force
  The military arm of the interdimensional Combine empire occupying Earth. They are cold, calculating, and technologically superior. Communicate via standardized radio chatter. Alyx confronts various soldier types and their technology.
• Vortigaunts: Allies / Enslaved Alien Species
  An alien species from Xen, formerly enslaved by the Nihilanth and now also oppressed by the Combine. Some Vortigaunts aid the resistance and Alyx, possessing unique energy-based abilities and cryptic wisdom.
• G-Man (Brief Appearance/Reference): Enigmatic Interdimensional Figure
  The mysterious, pan-dimensional 'bureaucrat' who has influenced events throughout the Half-Life series. His presence is felt, and he makes a pivotal appearance that recontextualizes past and future events.
• Dr. Judith Mossman (Mentioned/Implied): Scientist / Double Agent
  While not directly appearing in person for most of the game, her actions and involvement with Eli Vance and the Combine are referenced, linking to the broader Half-Life narrative.
• Headcrabs, Zombies, Barnacles, etc. (Xen Creatures): Antagonistic Fauna/Flora
  Various hostile lifeforms originating from the borderworld Xen, now infesting parts of City 17 due to Combine activity or portals.

• Main Story Acts
  The game is structured in a prologue and three main acts. The primary objective is to survive, expand the base, create the necessary Alters, and successfully move the mobile base across the planet's surface to escape the encroaching, lethal sunrise.
• Alter Storylines
  Each Alter has their own personal storyline and emotional needs. These manifest as side tasks and dialogue encounters where the player must make choices to resolve conflicts, improve morale, or deal with the consequences of their past decisions.
• Resource Expeditions
  A core gameplay loop that involves sending Jan outside the base during safe periods to explore the environment, locate resource deposits (metals, organics, Rapidium), and set up mining rigs to gather materials needed for crafting and base expansion.

• Main Story Chapters (Approximately 11 Chapters)
  A linear series of chapters that progress the narrative of Alyx Vance's mission to rescue her father, Eli Vance, from the Combine. This involves navigating various sectors of City 17, infiltrating Combine facilities, confronting Xen creatures, solving environmental puzzles using VR interactions and the Multi-Tool, and ultimately reaching a massive Combine Vault. Each chapter presents unique environments, challenges, and story developments.
• Environmental Puzzle Solving
  Throughout the levels, Alyx must solve various environmental puzzles to progress. These often involve using the Gravity Gloves to manipulate objects, finding and placing battery cells, rewiring circuits with the Multi-Tool (involving 3D holographic puzzles), disabling Combine security systems, or navigating hazardous terrain.
• Combat Encounters (Combine & Xen)
  Engage in intense first-person combat against Combine soldiers (various types with different weapons and tactics) and hostile Xen creatures (Headcrabs, Zombies, Barnacles, etc.). Combat emphasizes physically aiming, reloading weapons, using cover, and utilizing throwable items like grenades or environmental explosives.
• Stealth Sequences & Evasion
  Certain sections require or encourage stealthy approaches to bypass heavily armed Combine patrols, avoid waking dormant enemies, or navigate areas with unkillable threats like Jeff. This involves using cover, distractions, and careful movement.
• Resource Scavenging & Management
  Continuously search the environment for vital resources: Resin (for weapon upgrades), ammunition for Alyx's three firearms, health syringes, Combine grenades, and other useful items. Efficiently managing these limited resources is key to survival.
• Weapon Upgrading (At Combine Fabricators)
  Locate Combine fabricator stations and spend collected Resin to unlock and apply various upgrades to Alyx's pistol, shotgun, and SMG, enhancing their capabilities (e.g., adding sights, extended magazines, alternate fire modes like a grenade launcher).

The game was released with a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a digital artbook, and the original soundtrack. A physical Signature Edition with collectibles like a 'Pierogi Press' was also available from specific retailers.

Valve released extensive modding tools (Source 2 SDK) for Half-Life: Alyx, leading to a vibrant community workshop scene with numerous custom maps, campaigns, and experiences created by users. No official story DLC or expansions have been released by Valve for Alyx.

• Q: What kind of game is The Alters?
  A: It's a unique sci-fi game that blends base-building and resource management with a deep, psychological narrative about survival and identity. It has been described as a mix of 'This War of Mine', 'Fallout Shelter', and a narrative adventure game.
• Q: Is there combat in The Alters?
  A: No, the game is non-violent. The primary challenges come from survival against the harsh environment, managing resources, and navigating the complex social dynamics between the different versions of Jan.
• Q: How do you 'create' an Alter?
  A: Using a quantum computer, the player explores a branching tree of Jan's past life choices. By selecting a different path (e.g., 'What if Jan became a scientist?'), a new Alter with the corresponding skills and personality is manifested using a rare resource called Rapidium.
• Q: Is The Alters on Game Pass?
  A: Yes, The Alters was available on day one on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

• Q: Is Half-Life: Alyx a VR-only game?
  A: Yes, Half-Life: Alyx was designed from the ground up exclusively for virtual reality and requires a compatible PC VR headset (like Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest with Link, Windows Mixed Reality) and motion controllers to play.
• Q: Where does Half-Life: Alyx fit into the Half-Life timeline?
  A: Half-Life: Alyx is a prequel set between the events of the original Half-Life and Half-Life 2. It takes place five years before Gordon Freeman's return in Half-Life 2.
• Q: Do I need to have played previous Half-Life games to understand Alyx?
  A: While Half-Life: Alyx tells a self-contained story focused on Alyx Vance, familiarity with the Half-Life universe, characters (like Eli Vance, G-Man), and the Combine will significantly enhance the appreciation of its narrative, lore, and the impact of its ending. However, it can still be enjoyed by newcomers.
• Q: What are the 'Russells' or Gravity Gloves?
  A: The Gravity Gloves, nicknamed 'Russells' by Alyx after their inventor, are a pair of gloves that allow her to target distant objects and flick her wrist to pull them towards her through the air. They are a core VR mechanic for interaction, looting, and puzzle-solving.
• Q: How long is Half-Life: Alyx?
  A: A typical playthrough of the main story campaign takes around 12-15 hours, though this can vary depending on exploration, puzzle difficulty, and player skill. The Steam Workshop offers many additional hours of community-created content.
• Q: Does Half-Life: Alyx have mod support?
  A: Yes, Valve released official modding tools (Source 2 SDK) for Half-Life: Alyx, which has led to a thriving modding community creating custom maps, new campaigns, gameplay modifications, and other experiences available through the Steam Workshop.

Built on Unreal Engine, the game features a distinct visual style with a striking, alien planet filled with bizarre, physics-defying anomalies and beautiful yet menacing landscapes. The mobile base is highly detailed, with a modular, industrial aesthetic.

Developed on the Source 2 Engine, Half-Life: Alyx sets a new benchmark for visual fidelity and detail in VR. It features incredibly realistic environments with high-resolution textures, advanced lighting and shadow effects, and detailed character/enemy models. The level of interactivity with objects in the environment is exceptional, designed to leverage VR capabilities. The game is renowned for its atmospheric and immersive world.

The game features a full voice cast for Jan and all his Alters, with the same actor (Alex Jordan) delivering nuanced performances for each personality. The soundtrack is atmospheric and emotional, emphasizing the themes of isolation and introspection. The launch trailer notably featured the song 'We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow' by Soko.

Original score composed by Mike Morasky, featuring atmospheric electronic and orchestral pieces that build tension, enhance horror, and underscore dramatic moments. Sound design is crucial for VR immersion, with highly realistic spatial audio, distinct enemy vocalizations (Combine radio chatter, Headcrab screeches, Barnacle clicks), and impactful weapon sounds. Environmental audio plays a key role in detecting threats and navigating.

The UI features a time bar at the top of the screen, indicating the safe daylight hours for exploration. Menus on the left side show the status and mood of each Alter and current tasks. A resource counter is displayed at the bottom. The interface is designed to provide critical survival and management information at a glance.

Designed for VR immersion. Health and ammo are displayed on Alyx's left glove. Weapon selection is often done by reaching over the shoulder or via a wrist-mounted menu. The Gravity Gloves provide intuitive object interaction. Inventory (syringes, grenades, Resin) is managed via wrist slots or a backpack accessible by reaching behind the shoulder. Minimal on-screen HUD elements to maximize immersion.

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for The Alters. This information is based on official PC specifications, with the inclusion of current and future-generation GPUs as requested. Laptop and 50-series GPU equivalents are estimated based on performance benchmarks and industry expectations as of July 2025.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of the listed desktop GPUs and CPUs should offer comparable performance. This is heavily dependent on the laptop's specific configuration, including TGP (Total Graphics Power) for the GPU and the cooling system's effectiveness for both the CPU and GPU. Given the listed requirements, most modern gaming laptops should provide a good experience, but checking reviews for thermal performance is recommended.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: A higher TGP for the laptop's GPU will generally lead to better and more consistent framerates, which is important for a smooth gameplay experience.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Efficient cooling is crucial to prevent thermal throttling, which can significantly reduce performance during extended gaming sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game's performance can be influenced by the CPU's power limits. A laptop with good power delivery to the CPU will ensure the processor can maintain its boost clocks.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: For optimal performance and to minimize latency, a laptop with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended, as it allows the dedicated GPU to send frames directly to the display.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game supports upscaling technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 (with Frame Generation for 40/50 series) and AMD FSR. These can significantly boost performance, especially at higher resolutions.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance will be most affected by settings such as shadow quality, texture quality, effects detail, and anti-aliasing. Adjusting these settings can help achieve a balance between visual quality and framerate.
• Game Name: The Alters

• OFFICIAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Half-Life: Alyx (VR Game). This information has been adapted to the provided JSON structure. Half-Life: Alyx is a VR-exclusive title with established requirements. The '1080p' and '1440p' tier keys from the template are used here to represent 'VR Minimum' and 'VR Recommended' specifications, respectively. The '2160p' tier has been populated with hardware for an 'Extreme VR / Max Supersampling' scenario, which is not an official Valve-defined tier but represents a very high-end target.
• Laptop Performance Note: For VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx, laptop models of listed desktop GPUs must have comparable performance. Sufficient TGP (Total Graphics Power) for the GPU, robust cooling, and correct port connections for the VR headset are critical for a good VR experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Adequate TGP is crucial for VR performance on laptops, ensuring the GPU can deliver its expected power.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain stable frame rates, which is vital for VR comfort.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Sustained CPU performance is important for physics calculations, AI, and overall game logic in demanding VR scenarios.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can reduce latency and improve framerates by allowing the dedicated GPU to connect directly to the display (or VR headset via appropriate ports), which is highly beneficial for VR.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game engine (Source 2) features dynamic resolution scaling and allows for fixed render resolution overrides (per-eye) to manage performance for VR. SteamVR also provides global and per-application resolution settings.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: In-game graphics fidelity settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), the VR headset's native refresh rate (e.g., 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz), and the render resolution (per-eye) are the most significant factors affecting performance and visual quality. Maintaining a stable framerate matching the headset's refresh rate is crucial for a comfortable and immersive VR experience.
• Game Name: Half-Life: Alyx

• Upscaling Tech: The game supports upscaling technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 (with Frame Generation for 40/50 series) and AMD FSR. These can significantly boost performance, especially at higher resolutions.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance will be most affected by settings such as shadow quality, texture quality, effects detail, and anti-aliasing. Adjusting these settings can help achieve a balance between visual quality and framerate.

• Upscaling Tech: The game engine (Source 2) features dynamic resolution scaling and allows for fixed render resolution overrides (per-eye) to manage performance for VR. SteamVR also provides global and per-application resolution settings.
• Key Settings Impact: In-game graphics fidelity settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), the VR headset's native refresh rate (e.g., 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz), and the render resolution (per-eye) are the most significant factors affecting performance and visual quality. Maintaining a stable framerate matching the headset's refresh rate is crucial for a comfortable and immersive VR experience.

• G P U T G P: A higher TGP for the laptop's GPU will generally lead to better and more consistent framerates, which is important for a smooth gameplay experience.
• Cooling Thermals: Efficient cooling is crucial to prevent thermal throttling, which can significantly reduce performance during extended gaming sessions.
• C P U Power Limits: The game's performance can be influenced by the CPU's power limits. A laptop with good power delivery to the CPU will ensure the processor can maintain its boost clocks.
• M U X Switch Optimus: For optimal performance and to minimize latency, a laptop with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended, as it allows the dedicated GPU to send frames directly to the display.

• G P U T G P: Adequate TGP is crucial for VR performance on laptops, ensuring the GPU can deliver its expected power.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain stable frame rates, which is vital for VR comfort.
• C P U Power Limits: Sustained CPU performance is important for physics calculations, AI, and overall game logic in demanding VR scenarios.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can reduce latency and improve framerates by allowing the dedicated GPU to connect directly to the display (or VR headset via appropriate ports), which is highly beneficial for VR.