Several 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 sparked renewed speculation about future Valve projects.
Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve
Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold
A recent Twitter (X) announcement revealed that Hopoo Games is temporarily halting its current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail," due to this personnel shift to Valve. While the exact nature of the collaboration remains undisclosed, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles indicate their continued roles at Hopoo Games, suggesting this may not be a complete studio acquisition. The statement expressed gratitude for Valve's past partnerships and excitement for future collaborations, but confirmed the indefinite suspension of "Snail."
Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games gained recognition with the original Risk of Rain, a successful roguelike. The studio followed up with the highly popular Risk of Rain 2 in 2019. In 2022, Hopoo Games sold the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox Software, who continue to develop the series, recently releasing the Seekers of the Storm DLC. Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's direction for the franchise.
Valve's "Deadlock" and the Half-Life 3 Speculation
The specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement with Valve remain unannounced. Valve's current focus, the MOBA hero shooter Deadlock, is still in early access. However, the news has fueled long-standing rumors of a potential Half-Life 3.
These rumors intensified after a voice actor briefly listed a mysterious "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in their online portfolio. While quickly removed, this detail reignited fan theories, with speculation focusing on a possible connection between "White Sands" and Half-Life 3, drawing parallels to Black Mesa, a fan-made Half-Life remake set in New Mexico.
As reported by Eurogamer, the connection to Black Mesa, and its New Mexico setting, has further fueled the anticipation for a potential Half-Life 3 announcement.
