Key members of Hopoo Games, the creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have joined Valve's game development team. This significant move has sent ripples through the gaming community, particularly given Hopoo Games' announcement of an indefinite hiatus and the shelving of their upcoming project, "Snail."
Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve
The news, shared via a Twitter (X) thread, confirms the departure of several Hopoo Games developers to Valve. While the exact nature of their roles at Valve remains undisclosed, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles indicate their continued association with Hopoo Games. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement about contributing to Valve's future projects. However, the development of "Snail" has been halted.
Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved widespread recognition with the release of Risk of Rain and its sequel, Risk of Rain 2. Following the sale of the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox in 2022, the studio has now embarked on this new chapter with Valve. Drummond has publicly voiced his confidence in Gearbox's continued stewardship of the Risk of Rain franchise.
Valve's Current Projects and the Half-Life 3 Speculation
While Valve hasn't revealed Hopoo Games' specific contributions, the timing coincides with the ongoing early access phase of Valve's hero shooter, Deadlock. This, coupled with persistent rumors surrounding Half-Life 3, has fueled intense speculation among fans.
The recent, albeit quickly retracted, mention of a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in a voice actor's portfolio further ignited these rumors. Online discussions, notably on Eurogamer, have connected "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, drawing parallels between the name and the Black Mesa Research Facility featured prominently in the Half-Life series.
The addition of experienced developers from Hopoo Games to Valve's team adds fuel to the already burning fire of anticipation surrounding the potential development of Half-Life 3. Whether or not this collaboration will indeed lead to the long-awaited sequel remains to be seen, but the speculation is undoubtedly captivating the gaming community.
