Half-Life 3 Speculations Spark Again as Risk of Rain Original Devs Join Valve's Game Dev Team

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. This significant move has sparked renewed speculation about Valve's future projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (now X) that some team members are transitioning to Valve, leading to a temporary halt in their current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of this transition – temporary or permanent – remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their roles at Hopoo Games. The studio expressed gratitude for their decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for their future collaborations.

Hopoo Games, established in 2012 by Drummond and Morse, gained recognition with the original Risk of Rain. Following the success of its sequel, Risk of Rain 2 (2019), Hopoo Games sold the IP to Gearbox in 2022. Despite mixed reception to the recent Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC, Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's handling of the franchise.

Valve's "Deadlock" and the Half-Life 3 Speculation

While Valve hasn't revealed the Hopoo team's specific assignment, their involvement fuels speculation, especially concerning the ongoing development of Valve's "Deadlock" (in early access) and the persistent rumors surrounding Half-Life 3.

These rumors intensified recently when a voice actor briefly listed a Valve project called "Project White Sands" in their portfolio. Although quickly removed, this sparked fan theories connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, citing potential links to Black Mesa and its New Mexico setting. Eurogamer reported on the ensuing fan speculation.

The addition of experienced developers from Hopoo Games to Valve's team only adds fuel to the already burning fire of Half-Life 3 anticipation.