A recent video clip has resurfaced, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the technical prowess of the indefinitely delayed game, In the Valley of the Gods. Developed by Campo Santo, the creators of Firewatch, the game was put on hold after the studio’s acquisition by Valve. This newly revealed footage showcases the impressive realism of the game’s water effects, a testament to the team’s dedication to visual fidelity.
A Look at Cutting-Edge Water Technology
Matthew Wilde, a visual effects developer at Valve and a former member of the In the Valley of the Gods team, shared a brief video on Bluesky demonstrating the realistic water simulation. Even with the compression inherent in social media sharing, the water’s fluidity and interaction with the environment are strikingly realistic.
alt text: A video game still showing realistic water
Wilde, who recently contributed to the water effects and shaders in Counter-Strike 2, previously documented the team’s innovative approach to water simulation. In 2018, Campo Santo developed a GPU-based system that factored in water depth, velocity, and proximity to objects, resulting in dynamic and believable water textures. While similar physics simulations have emerged in recent years, Campo Santo’s early work stands out as a pioneering achievement.
From Firewatch to an Uncertain Future
In the Valley of the Gods held significant promise after Campo Santo’s critical success with Firewatch. The single-player adventure game was initially planned for a 2019 release under the Valve banner following the acquisition. However, the development team was subsequently reassigned to other Valve projects, including Half-Life: Alyx. While Campo Santo co-founder Jake Rodkin clarified that the game wasn’t officially canceled, it was put “on hold,” leaving its future uncertain. Intriguingly, the game’s Steam page remains active, displaying a placeholder release date of December 2029.
A Lost Treasure?
The resurfacing of this footage rekindles interest in In the Valley of the Gods and highlights the potential of what could have been. The advanced water technology showcased in the clip underscores the development team’s commitment to pushing boundaries. Whether the game will ever see the light of day remains unknown, leaving fans to wonder about the lost potential of this intriguing project.
