Valve Welcomes Original 'Risk of Rain' Devs, Fueling 'Half-Life 3' Speculations

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 future Valve projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (now X) that a portion of their team, including its co-founders, are transitioning to Valve. This decision has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of this transition – temporary or permanent – remains unclear, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their roles at Hopoo Games. The studio expressed gratitude for their past decade of partnership with Valve and excitement about contributing to future Valve projects.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games gained recognition with the release of Risk of Rain, a popular roguelike. The studio followed up with Risk of Rain 2 in 2019. In 2022, Hopoo Games sold the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox Software, which continues to develop the franchise. Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's handling of the series, noting their positive direction.

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

While Valve hasn't revealed details about the Hopoo Games team's assignments, their current focus is on Deadlock, a hero shooter currently in early access. However, the news has fueled long-standing rumors about a potential Half-Life 3.

The speculation intensified after a voice actor briefly listed a mysterious "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in their portfolio. Although quickly removed, the entry ignited fan theories, with some suggesting a connection to Half-Life 3 due to the real-world location's relevance to the Half-Life series' setting. Eurogamer noted fan discussions connecting "White Sands" to Black Mesa, a fan-made Half-Life remake.

The joining of experienced developers from Hopoo Games to Valve's team adds further fuel to the ongoing Half-Life 3 speculation, although nothing concrete has been confirmed.