The acclaimed Risk of Rain series developers, Hopoo Games, have made a significant move. Key team members, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have joined Valve, sparking renewed speculation about future projects.
Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve
Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold
Hopoo Games announced on X (formerly Twitter) that several developers, including its co-founders, are transitioning to Valve. This has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the move's permanence remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their Hopoo Games roles, suggesting the studio isn't dissolving. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for future collaborations.
Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games rose to prominence with the popular roguelike, Risk of Rain. Its sequel, Risk of Rain 2, followed in 2019. In 2022, the Risk of Rain IP was sold to Gearbox, which continues its development. Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's stewardship of the franchise.
Valve's "Deadlock" and the Half-Life 3 Speculation
While Valve hasn't revealed Hopoo Games' specific role, the timing coincides with the ongoing early access phase of Valve's hero shooter, "Deadlock," and persistent Half-Life 3 rumors. These rumors intensified after a voice actor briefly listed a Valve project, "Project White Sands," before removing it. This fueled speculation, particularly given the connection between "White Sands" and the Black Mesa Research Facility, a key location in the Half-Life series. Eurogamer highlighted fan theories linking "Project White Sands" to Half-Life 3.
