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

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 marks a new chapter for both companies.

Hopoo Games Joins Valve's Game Development Team

Studio Temporarily Halts Projects, Including "Snail"

Hopoo Games announced on Twitter (X) that several developers, including its co-founders, are transitioning to Valve. This decision puts Hopoo Games' current projects, including the unannounced title "Snail," on indefinite hold. While the studio's future remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list them as Hopoo Games co-founders, suggesting the studio isn't dissolving. The announcement expressed gratitude for Valve's past collaborations and confirmed the pause on "Snail," concluding with the poignant message, "sleep tight, Hopoo Games."

Founded in 2012 by Drummond and Morse, Hopoo Games achieved significant success with the Risk of Rain series. Following the 2019 release of Risk of Rain 2, Hopoo Games sold the IP to Gearbox in 2022. Despite some mixed reception to the recent Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm DLC, Drummond expressed confidence in Gearbox's continued stewardship of the franchise on Twitter (X).

Valve's "Deadlock" in Early Access Fuels Half-Life 3 Speculation

While the specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed, the move has reignited speculation about a potential Half-Life 3. Valve's current major project, the hero shooter Deadlock, is still in early access. This, coupled with persistent rumors, has led many to believe Hopoo Games might be contributing to a long-awaited Half-Life sequel.

This speculation was further fueled by a now-removed entry in a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve. The brief appearance of this entry, as reported by Eurogamer, sparked fan theories connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, drawing parallels between "White Sands" (a park in New Mexico) and the Black Mesa Research Facility featured prominently in the Half-Life series, also located in New Mexico.