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

Several 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 Valve's future projects.

Hopoo Games' Transition to Valve

Projects Paused, "Snail" on Hold

Hopoo Games announced via Twitter (now X) that select team members are transitioning to Valve. This shift temporarily halts current Hopoo Games projects, including the unannounced title "Snail." While the nature of this transition remains unclear, Drummond and Morse's LinkedIn profiles still list them as Hopoo Games co-founders, suggesting the studio isn't dissolving. The studio expressed gratitude for its decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for contributing to future Valve titles.

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 Half-Life 3 Speculation Intensifies

While Valve hasn't revealed the Hopoo team's specific assignments, their arrival coincides with Valve's early access MOBA hero shooter, "Deadlock," and ongoing speculation about a potential Half-Life 3.

Fueling the Half-Life 3 rumors is a since-removed entry from a voice actor's portfolio mentioning a Valve project codenamed "Project White Sands." This sparked online discussions, with some fans connecting "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, drawing parallels to the Black Mesa Research Facility's location in New Mexico. The connection is further supported by the existence of a real-world White Sands park in New Mexico.

As reported by Eurogamer, the fan theories surrounding "Project White Sands" and its potential link to Half-Life 3 continue to gain traction.