Valve Taps RoR Devs Amidst HL3 Rumors

Key members of Hopoo Games, the creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have transitioned to Valve. This significant move has sent ripples through the gaming community, particularly given Hopoo's history and Valve's enigmatic future projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

The announcement, made via Twitter (X), revealed that Hopoo Games is temporarily halting production on all projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of the collaboration with Valve remains undisclosed, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles indicate their continued association with Hopoo Games. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement about contributing to upcoming Valve titles. The statement concluded with a playful "sleep tight, Hopoo Games," hinting at a temporary hiatus.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games rose to prominence with the original Risk of Rain and its highly successful sequel. Following the 2022 sale of the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox, the studio has now embarked on this new chapter. Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's stewardship of the franchise, indicating a positive outlook for the series' future.

Speculation Mounts: Half-Life 3 and Project White Sands

The lack of specifics regarding Hopoo Games' involvement with Valve has fueled speculation, particularly surrounding the long-awaited Half-Life 3. Valve's current focus, the hero shooter Deadlock, remains in early access. However, the recent, albeit quickly retracted, mention of a "Project White Sands" on a voice actor's portfolio has ignited intense fan theories.

The connection to Half-Life 3 is tenuous but intriguing. Eurogamer noted fan speculation linking "White Sands" (a New Mexico park) to Black Mesa, the fan-made Half-Life remake, and its New Mexico setting. This circumstantial evidence, coupled with Hopoo Games' expertise in action-packed gameplay, has further amplified the anticipation surrounding a potential Half-Life 3 announcement.

The collaboration between Hopoo Games and Valve remains shrouded in mystery, but the potential implications for the future of gaming, and especially the Half-Life franchise, are undeniable. Only time will tell what exciting projects emerge from this partnership.