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

The acclaimed Risk of Rain developers, Hopoo Games, have made a significant move, with key personnel, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, transitioning to Valve.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (now X) that several developers, including its co-founders, are joining Valve. This collaboration has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo Games' current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of the transition – temporary or permanent – 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 future collaborations, but confirmed the indefinite suspension of "Snail."

Established in 2012 by Drummond and Morse, Hopoo Games achieved recognition with the original Risk of Rain, a popular roguelike. The sequel, Risk of Rain 2, followed in 2019. In 2022, Hopoo Games sold the Risk of Rain IP to Gearbox, which continues to develop the franchise. Drummond recently voiced his confidence in Gearbox's handling of the series.

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

The specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed. Valve's current major project, the MOBA hero shooter Deadlock, is in early access. However, the news has fueled renewed speculation about a potential Half-Life 3.

This speculation intensified after a voice actor briefly listed a mysterious "Project White Sands" linked to Valve on their portfolio. While quickly removed, the mention sparked fan theories connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, drawing parallels to the Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico, a key location in the Half-Life series. Eurogamer highlighted this fan speculation, noting the potential connection.