Hopoo Games, the developer behind the Risk of Rain series, has made an announcement that made many fans and industry insiders question the franchise’s future. The executives of the firm, including founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, are now working directly at Valve along with other skilled team members.
This change has caused the cease in the production of “Snail,” Hopoo’s unannounced game, and raised questions about the Risk of Rain 2 status and its continued support.
In a Twitter announcement, Hopoo expressed satisfaction at joining Valve but noted the effect such a step would have on their current projects. The statement also confirmed that the studio is not shutting down, although it looks like they are taking a break as they shift to working on Valve’s projects.
Ownership confusion clouds the future of Risk of Rain
The migration of the Risk Of Rain staff to Valve has raised questions regarding the future of the Risk of Rain series particularly after recent developments regarding IP ownership. In 2022 Gearbox Publishing acquired the Risk of Rain IP and left Hopoo the Liberty to work on other new projects. This year however saw Embracer Group, the parent company of Gearbox sell the company including the Risk of Rain Ip to Take-Two Interactive.
This sale has led to uncertainty concerning who owns the publishing and the rights to further development of the series. Recently an update on the Steam page of the Risk of Rain 2 game stated the continuing issues with the expansion of Seekers of the Storm. Developer Dee explained further saying that Gearbox Publishing, now rebranded Arс Games, has lost its previous identity which left the Risk of Rain 2 without a clear path for publishing.
Hopoo Games caught in legal tangle over Risk of Rain
The transfer of Risk of Rain to Take-Two Interactive, while the publishing arm remained with Arc Games, has caused a complex legal scenario. Many fans and developers are uncertain about the future of the series after Embracer and Take-Two’s handling of the IP split.
Developer Dee hinted at a possible greater legal mess resulting from this split, stating that the IP could be trapped in an ownership void without a clear direction for development or publishing.
With Hopoo Games now stepping away, fans of Risk of Rain are left in a state of limbo regarding what happens next. What remains now is the wish that the legal and other publishing issues will get resolved and with it, the Risk of Rain franchise will get to come back. For the time being, the issue of who owes the relationship and who develops the franchise is still unresolved.
