Half-Life 3 Hints Emerge with Valve Hiring Former Risk of Rain Devs

Several key members of Hopoo Games, creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have joined Valve. This 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, including its co-founders, are transitioning to Valve. This has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' current projects, notably the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of this transition – temporary or permanent – remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list them as Hopoo Games co-founders. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement about contributing to Valve's upcoming titles.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved significant success with the Risk of Rain series. In 2022, they sold the IP to Gearbox Software, who continue to develop the franchise, recently releasing the Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC. Drummond voiced his confidence in Gearbox's direction for the series.

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

The specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve are undisclosed. Valve's current focus is on "Deadlock," a hero shooter in early access. However, the news has reignited persistent rumors surrounding a potential Half-Life 3. These rumors were amplified by a now-removed entry in a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a Valve project called "Project White Sands." Speculation links "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-made remake. Eurogamer reported on this fan speculation.