Key members of Hopoo Games, creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have transitioned to 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 (X) that several developers, including its co-founders, are joining Valve. This collaboration has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' current projects, notably the unannounced title, "Snail." While the nature of the transition remains unclear, both Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles indicate ongoing roles at Hopoo Games. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for contributing to their upcoming titles.
Established in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved prominence with the original Risk of Rain. Following the success of its 2019 sequel, Risk of Rain 2, the studio sold the IP to Gearbox in 2022. Drummond voiced his confidence in Gearbox's stewardship of the franchise, commenting positively on the recently released Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC.
Valve's "Deadlock" and the Half-Life 3 Speculation
While Valve and Hopoo haven't revealed details about their collaboration, the timing coincides with Valve's ongoing Deadlock early access and persistent rumors surrounding Half-Life 3. A now-removed entry in a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve fueled these rumors. Speculation connects "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. This has ignited significant fan excitement and conjecture.
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