In an exciting development for fans of indie gaming, the creators of the iconic roguelike Risk of Rain recently announced their transition to Valve Corporation. This move marks a significant change for the team, especially for Duncan “Hopoo” Drummond, who has already started working on Valve’s upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock.
The announcement highlights the blending of indie talent with major gaming companies, raising expectations for future projects.
Drummond made headlines when he appeared in the official Deadlock Discord, where he introduced himself and engaged directly with players. His swift response to bug reports and balance feedback generated considerable buzz, quickly spreading across platforms like Reddit.
This level of community interaction signals a strong commitment to addressing player concerns and fostering a collaborative development environment, which is particularly encouraging for fans.
The journey of Duncan Drummond and his co-creator Paul Morse began during their university days when they developed Risk of Rain. Their online identities eventually gave rise to Hopoo Games, which evolved over the years, especially with the success of Risk of Rain 2.
Drummond played a multifaceted role in these projects, serving as programmer, artist, co-designer, and co-producer, earning him a respected place in the indie game development scene.
On September 2, Hopoo Games announced that Drummond, Morse, and other talented team members would be joining Valve, effectively marking the end of their studio’s operations.
This shift not only signals the closure of Hopoo Games but also halts production on their unannounced game, leaving many fans wondering what could have been. Their farewell message, “Sleep tight, Hopoo Games,” reflects a bittersweet end to a chapter filled with creativity and innovation.
Now that Drummond is involved with Deadlock, the community is eager to see how his expertise and passion will shape the game’s development.
His active engagement suggests that he will prioritize player feedback, aiming to create an engaging and polished experience. As he embarks on this new journey with Valve, there’s a sense of anticipation surrounding what this collaboration might yield, both for Deadlock and for the future of gaming.
