Valve Hires Risk of Rain Devs, Fueling Half-Life 3 Rumors

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 sparked renewed speculation about Valve's future projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Development Hiatus and Project Cancellation

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (X) that several developers, including its co-founders, are joining Valve's game development team. This collaboration has resulted in an indefinite hiatus for Hopoo Games, placing their unannounced project, "Snail," on hold. While the nature of this transition remains unclear – whether temporary or permanent – 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 future collaborations, but confirmed the cessation of "Snail's" development.

Established in 2012 by Drummond and Morse, Hopoo Games achieved recognition with the original Risk of Rain. Following the success of its 2019 sequel, Risk of Rain 2, Hopoo Games sold the IP to Gearbox in 2022. Drummond recently voiced his confidence in Gearbox's continued development of the franchise, including the recently released Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC.

Valve's Deadlock and the Persistent Half-Life 3 Rumors

Although neither Valve nor Hopoo has revealed the specifics of their collaboration, the timing coincides with Valve's ongoing Deadlock early access and the persistent chatter surrounding a potential Half-Life 3. The recent, albeit quickly retracted, mention of a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in a voice actor's portfolio has further fueled speculation. Eurogamer reported on 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).

The influx of experienced developers from Hopoo Games adds weight to the ongoing Half-Life 3 rumors, although no official confirmation exists. The situation remains a compelling blend of industry movement and fervent fan anticipation.