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 significant move has sparked renewed speculation about future Valve projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Development Hiatus and Project Cancellation

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (now X) that several developers, including its co-founders, are transitioning to Valve. This has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' operations, including the indefinite postponement of their unannounced project, "Snail." While the move's permanence remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their Hopoo Games affiliations. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for contributing to future Valve titles.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved success with the Risk of Rain series. Following the 2022 sale of the IP to Gearbox, Hopoo Games maintained confidence in Gearbox's handling of the franchise, with Drummond voicing his approval of Gearbox's direction.

Valve's Current Projects and Half-Life 3 Speculation

Although Valve hasn't revealed Hopoo Games' specific role, the timing coincides with Valve's ongoing Deadlock early access and persistent Half-Life 3 rumors. A voice actor's portfolio briefly mentioning a Valve project codenamed "Project White Sands," quickly removed, fueled speculation. Eurogamer reported that fans connected "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, citing potential links to the Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico, a key location in the Half-Life series. This connection, however tenuous, has reignited hopes for a long-awaited sequel.