Half-Life Now Playable in Web Browsers With Multiplayer

Valve's original Half-Life can run directly in a modern web browser through webXash, an unofficial community project that brings the 1998 first-person shooter to Windows, macOS, and Linux browsers without a traditional game installation.

Developed by x8BitRain, webXash uses a WebAssembly version of Xash3D FWGS, an open-source reimplementation of the engine technology used by Half-Life.

According to the developer's official GitHub repository, the browser interface supports Half-Life, Counter-Strike 1.6, and compatible expansions and modifications using players' existing game files.

Unlike cloud gaming services, webXash runs the game locally inside the browser rather than streaming gameplay from a remote computer.

The project includes a save manager that stores progress through the browser's IndexedDB system. Players can also export saves and manage separate save files for supported games and modifications.

Multiplayer functionality is available through compatible WebSocket-enabled servers, allowing local network or internet connections. However, conventional public server discovery is not supported, and players must connect to compatible servers directly.

The browser version also supports configurable launch arguments, fullscreen gameplay, and keyboard and mouse controls.

A playable demonstration is available without supplying the complete commercial game, but accessing the full Half-Life campaign requires game data from a legally obtained copy.

The project has existed for several years and is not a newly released 2026 port. It remains an unofficial alternative for playing Half-Life through a browser, with compatibility and performance depending on the browser, device, and selected modifications.