Hopoo Games, the studio behind the popular Risk Of Rain series, has made an announcement that they will be shutting down and moving on to work at Valve. Co-founders Paul Morse and Duncan Drummond, along with other talented members of the team, will be taking on game development roles at the renowned Steam owners. This decision comes after the studio decided to drop their work on a new game called “Snail”, as revealed by the developers on Xitter.
The absorption of small indie studios by Valve is not a new phenomenon. Campo Santo, the developers of Firewatch, also made a similar move in the past. They abandoned their upcoming game to join Valve, despite still having a release date set for December 2029. This trend highlights Valve’s ability to attract top talent from the industry and incorporate them into their team.
The decision for Hopoo Games to join Valve comes at a time when the studio faced backlash over the latest DLC for Risk Of Rain 2. It is important to note that Hopoo Games no longer holds the rights to the series, as they were sold to Gearbox in 2022. Drummond expressed sympathy for the Gearbox team now working on the game, acknowledging the challenges they faced.
While the specific projects that the former Hopoo Games team will be working on at Valve remain undisclosed, speculations point towards the multiplayer shooter Deadlock. Valve is known for its secretive management style, but there have been instances where insights into the company’s workings have been revealed. From leaked company handbooks to personal accounts, there is a sense of mystery surrounding Valve’s operations.
The transition of the Hopoo Games team to Valve marks a new chapter for both parties. As they embark on this new journey, the gaming community eagerly awaits to see what innovative projects will emerge from this collaboration. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that come with such a move, the talent and passion of the developers involved promise a bright future in the world of game development.
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