Key members of Hopoo Games, the creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have transitioned to Valve. This significant move has placed Hopoo Games' projects, including the unannounced "Snail," on indefinite hold.
Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve
The announcement, shared via X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the departure of several Hopoo Games developers to Valve. While the nature of this transition—temporary or permanent—remains unclear, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their Hopoo Games affiliations. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for contributing to future Valve projects. However, this collaboration necessitates a pause on their own development efforts, including the cancellation of "Project Snail."
Established in 2012, Hopoo Games gained recognition with the original Risk of Rain, a popular roguelike. The studio subsequently released the highly successful sequel, Risk of Rain 2, in 2019. In 2022, Hopoo Games sold the Risk of Rain intellectual property to Gearbox Software, which continues to develop the franchise. Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's handling of the series, indicating a positive outlook on its future.
Speculation Mounts Regarding Valve's Next Project
The specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed. Valve's current major project, the MOBA hero shooter Deadlock, is still in early access. However, the news has fueled ongoing speculation about a potential Half-Life 3.
This speculation intensified after a voice actor briefly listed a mysterious "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in their portfolio. While quickly removed, this entry sparked fan theories connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, drawing parallels between "White Sands" (a New Mexico park) and Black Mesa, the setting of the original Half-Life and its fan remake. Eurogamer highlighted this fan speculation, further fueling the excitement surrounding a potential Half-Life 3 announcement.
