Risk of Rain Devs Cancel Current Project & Jump Ship To Valve

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Risk of Rain Devs Cancel Current Project & Jump Ship To Valve

Key Takeaways

  • Several Hopoo Games developers have left to work at Valve, suspending a project and putting the studio on an unofficial hiatus.
  • Valve’s new hires could hint at new projects, but nothing is confirmed.
  • These new hires are a welcomed break from news of layoffs in the industry.

As a long-time fan of Hopoo Games, particularly Risk of Rain, I must admit that the recent news about several developers moving to Valve has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it’s exciting to see such talented individuals joining a gaming giant like Valve. On the other, the hiatus at Hopoo Games and the uncertain future of my beloved Risk of Rain series is concerning.

A number of developers from the Risk of Rain studio (Hopoo Games) are reported to have moved on to work with Valve, as per a statement made public on X.

In a touching message from the studio, it was shared that they would carry on developing games while collaborating with Valve, yet they have decided to halt progress on their ongoing project, which is known as ‘Snail.’

It appears that a significant number of employees joined Valve, although the exact count is uncertain. This influx may have led to the studio temporarily stepping back from active production, or entering an informal break in operations.

Despite no closure being announced, the post ended with “sleep tight, Hopoo Games.”

Despite many fans expressing enthusiasm, some were disheartened by the potential impact on the studio’s past creations following the release of the incomplete, glitchy, and expensive DLC from the new rights holders, Gearbox Software. Earlier this week, fans of the game Risk of Rain found themselves disappointed with an unpolished expansion pack that was released by its newly acquired owners.

It’s unclear whether some minor issues are arising with Gearbox’s acquisition, or if this could be hinting at their future strategy for the series.

Even though Hopoo Games may not choose to, or perhaps are unable to, provide adequate attention to their struggling series, it is likely that they will continue to show the same level of dedication and creativity in their future projects at Valve.

Even though the developers showcase exceptional skills and obvious passion for game creation, their departure is an unexpected yet pleasant shift from the continuous layoffs that have plagued the gaming industry recently. Notably, considering the relatively small team Valve maintains, as exposed by a 2021 leak, these new hires are significant additions to the company.

So, why the extra hands on deck?

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors

Risk of Rain Devs Cancel Current Project & Jump Ship To Valve

As a gaming enthusiast, I must admit that Valve has usually been quite reserved in releasing new games or sequels. However, this year seems to buck the trend!

It’s fair to say that Valve’s Deadlock was more like an open secret in the gaming world rather than a surprise. For quite some time prior to the official announcement, numerous individuals such as diverse as journalists and even journalists, including journalists were already had been secretly as many as thousands of people were already playing the game, including journalists themselves.

Still, a Verge reporter was banned for publishing an article about it, despite not signing an NDA— why invite a reporter for a secret project without restricting them is anyone’s guess.

As a gaming enthusiast, I was explicitly requested by Valve not to disclose any details about the upcoming game. They made it clear that they simply requested this information without any formal documentation or binding agreements.

To maintain their position amidst intense competition from Overwatch, it’s evident that Valve needs additional help. Consequently, the continuous updates required for a multiplayer game could potentially become overwhelming for the two-personnel for the small team of staff members they retain-year round.

However, if you’re more of an optimist, there might be more than a new shooter in store.

The numerous leaks and rumors surrounding Half-Life 3 have been discussed at length in previous writings, however, this year has seen an unprecedented escalation of these developments.

After years of suspense, begging, a few lines of code, namesake companies, and website hints, Valve has more than enough to live up to. And Hoppo Games’ converts might be Valve’s key to fulfilling these expectations.

1. Regarding anything from Valve, even small bits of information require massive amounts of skepticism. Until and until they confirmations officially verifies any new hirings (oras such hires are positive hiring announcements should be taken as good news in themselves.

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2024-09-03 23:41