Half-Life 3 Hopes Rekindled as Rain Devs Join Valve

Risk of Rain developers join Valve, sparking Half-Life 3 speculation. Several key members of Hopoo Games, including co-founders, have transitioned to Valve, putting Hopoo's projects, including "Snail," on hold.

Hopoo Games' Move to Valve

The acclaimed Risk of Rain developers are now working at Valve, as announced on X (formerly Twitter). While Hopoo Games remains active, its current projects are paused. The co-founders' LinkedIn profiles indicate their roles at Hopoo Games are unchanged, suggesting this may not be a complete studio closure. The team expressed gratitude for their decade-long partnership with Valve and excitement for future collaborations. However, development of their unannounced title, "Snail," has ceased.

Founded in 2012, Hopoo Games rose to prominence with the Risk of Rain series. Following the 2022 sale of the IP to Gearbox, the studio's co-founders expressed confidence in Gearbox's continued development of the franchise.

Valve's Current Projects and Half-Life 3 Rumors

While Valve hasn't confirmed Hopoo's new assignment, the move fuels speculation about Half-Life 3. Valve's current focus is on "Deadlock," in early access. The recent, quickly removed mention of a "Project White Sands" linked to Valve in a voice actor's portfolio further ignited these rumors.

Eurogamer and fans have connected "White Sands" to Half-Life 3, citing potential links to Black Mesa and its New Mexico setting. This connection, however tenuous, has invigorated the hopes of long-time Half-Life fans for a much-anticipated sequel.