Half-Life 3 Speculations Spark Again as Risk of Rain Original Devs Join Valve's Game Dev Team

Hopoo Games' Key Personnel Transition to Valve; Project Snail Halted

Hopoo Games, renowned creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, have announced a significant shift. Several key team members, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, are joining Valve. This transition, revealed via a Twitter (X) post, has resulted in a temporary suspension of Hopoo Games' projects, notably the upcoming title "Snail."

While the nature of the move—temporary or permanent—remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list their Hopoo Games affiliations. The studio expressed gratitude for their decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for contributing to future Valve projects. However, they confirmed that "Snail" development is on hold. The announcement concluded with a poignant "sleep tight, Hopoo Games," signaling a pause in their independent development efforts.

Established in 2012 by Drummond and Morse, Hopoo Games achieved significant success with the original Risk of Rain, a captivating roguelike. Its 2019 sequel, Risk of Rain 2, further solidified their reputation. In 2022, they transferred the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox Software, who continue to develop the franchise, recently releasing the Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC. Despite mixed reception to the DLC, Drummond voiced confidence in Gearbox's future direction for the series.

Valve's "Deadlock" and the Resurfacing Half-Life 3 Rumors

While Valve and Hopoo remain tight-lipped regarding the specifics of their collaboration, speculation is rife. Valve's current major project, the MOBA hero shooter "Deadlock," is in early access. However, the persistent rumors surrounding a potential Half-Life 3 have intensified with this news.

Fueling these rumors is a recent, now-removed entry from a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a mysterious "Project White Sands" connected to Valve. This sparked fervent fan theories, with some suggesting a link between "White Sands" and Half-Life 3, drawing parallels to Black Mesa, a Half-Life fan remake set in New Mexico. The connection to Black Mesa, a key location in the original Half-Life, further ignited the speculation. Eurogamer reported on the fan theories and the subsequent online discussions.