Valve Hires RoR Devs, Reigniting Half-Life 3 Hopes

Key members of Hopoo Games, 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 placed Hopoo Games' current projects, including the unannounced "Snail," on indefinite hold.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

The studio announced the personnel shift via Twitter (now X), expressing gratitude for their decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for future collaborations. While the nature of this transition—temporary or permanent—remains unclear, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list them as Hopoo Games co-founders. The statement clearly indicates a cessation of work on "Snail," leaving fans to speculate on the future of the studio.

Risk of Rain Legacy and Gearbox's Continued Development

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved notable success with the Risk of Rain series. Following the 2022 sale of the IP to Gearbox, development continues, with the recent release of Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC. Despite mixed reception to the DLC, Drummond voiced confidence in Gearbox's direction for the franchise.

Speculation Mounts Regarding Valve's Projects and Half-Life 3

The specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed. However, the news has fueled renewed speculation about the potential development of Half-Life 3, particularly given Valve's current focus on the early access title Deadlock. This speculation intensified following a now-removed entry in a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve. Online discussions have connected this cryptic project to Half-Life 3, citing potential links between "White Sands" and Black Mesa, the setting of the original Half-Life game. The connection remains purely speculative, but the timing of these events has undeniably reignited fan hopes.