Valve's Half-Life 3 Hopes Reignite

Key members of Hopoo Games, the creators of the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, including co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, have joined 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 transitioning to Valve. This has resulted in a temporary halt to Hopoo's current projects, notably the unannounced title, "Snail." While the nature of this 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 contributing to future Valve titles.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games achieved significant success with the Risk of Rain franchise. Following the 2022 sale of the IP to Gearbox, Hopoo Games continues to maintain a positive outlook on Gearbox's stewardship of the series, with Drummond expressing confidence in their direction.

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

While the specifics of Hopoo Games' involvement at Valve remain undisclosed, the timing coincides with Valve's ongoing "Deadlock" early access and persistent rumors surrounding Half-Life 3. A recently removed entry from a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve has further fueled this speculation. The potential connection between "White Sands" and Half-Life 3, given the association with Black Mesa and its New Mexico setting, has ignited considerable fan excitement. Eurogamer reported on the fan theories connecting "White Sands" to the long-awaited sequel.