Transition of Ownership
Risk of Rain 2, along with its predecessors, has carved out a notable niche in the gaming landscape, captivating audiences since its inception. The original game, crafted by university students Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, quickly transformed into an indie sensation. Its sequel, released in 2019, mirrored this success, amassing an impressive 500,000 players during its early access phase.
In a significant turn of events, the Risk of Rain intellectual property transitioned from Drummond and Morse’s studio, Hopoo Games, to Gearbox in 2022. The reception of the latest expansion, however, has sparked concerns among fans and industry observers alike, indicating that the transition may not have been as seamless as hoped.
A Bittersweet Farewell
In a recent announcement on Twitter, both founders of Hopoo Games, alongside several other talented team members, revealed their new venture: they will be joining Valve to work directly on game development. Their message conveyed gratitude for the partnerships formed over the past decade and excitement about collaborating with Valve on their esteemed titles.
However, this new chapter comes with a poignant sacrifice. The team confirmed that they would be halting production on their unannounced project, titled “Snail.” Drummond succinctly expressed his sentiments with a quote tweet stating, “I work at Valve now,” encapsulating the mixed emotions surrounding this transition.
The farewell message from Hopoo Games resonated with nostalgia and hope: “We love making games—and will continue to do so, for years to come. We’re excited to be working side-by-side with the talented people at Valve. But for now—sleep tight, Hopoo Games.”
Reflections on the Future
As a fan of Hopoo Games, the news evokes a sense of bittersweetness. The prospect of no more original titles from the studio is disheartening, even if many of its developers are now contributing their talents to Valve. This scenario mirrors the experience of Campo Santo, the creators of Firewatch, who joined Valve in 2018, leading to the prolonged development of their announced game, In the Valley of the Gods, which currently sits with a placeholder release date of December 2029 on Steam.
On a brighter note, the collaboration with Valve could yield exciting results, particularly in light of Valve’s recent projects like Deadlock, which has garnered positive attention. While the cancellation of “Snail” is disappointing, it’s worth noting that the game was never officially announced, making it challenging to grieve for something that remained largely unknown.
Despite the memes suggesting that “Valve doesn’t release games,” the studio’s recent output tells a different story. Titles such as Dota: Underlords, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike 2, and now Deadlock have emerged within the last four years, signaling a revitalization of Valve’s development efforts. The integration of Hopoo Games into this dynamic environment holds the potential for innovative collaborations, and many are eager to see what unfolds in this new partnership.
