Valve's Dev Team Expands: New Members Fuel Half-Life 3 Rumors

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 Valve's future projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (X) that several team members are transitioning to Valve. This includes co-founders Drummond and Morse. Consequently, Hopoo Games has temporarily suspended its current projects, including the unannounced title, "Snail." While the move's permanence remains unclear, both 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 recognition with the original Risk of Rain. The studio's success continued with the 2019 release of Risk of Rain 2. In 2022, Hopoo Games sold the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox Software. Drummond recently voiced his confidence in Gearbox's stewardship of the franchise on Twitter (X).

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

While the specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed, the timing coincides with Valve's ongoing Deadlock early access and persistent rumors surrounding Half-Life 3. The recent, albeit quickly retracted, mention of a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in a voice actor's portfolio further fueled fan speculation about a potential Half-Life 3 project. Eurogamer noted fan theories connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, referencing the Black Mesa Research Facility's New Mexico location.

The influx of talented developers from Hopoo Games adds further intrigue to the ongoing speculation surrounding Valve's unannounced projects.