Portal and Left 4 Dead writer Chet Faliszek and Riot Games senior technical designer Kimberly Voll have announced the launch of a new studio called Stray Bombay Company.
Portal and Left 4 Dead writer Chet Faliszek and Riot Games senior technical designer Kimberly Voll have announced the launch of a new studio called Stray Bombay Company (check out their awesome logo!) that will develop AI-driven “collaborative gaming experiences.”
“As Kim and I talked over the years about the kind of games we want to make, we realized we want to create games that give players a place to breathe and live in the moment,” Faliszek said at straybombay.com. “Games that tell stories knowing you are going to come back again and again, that change each time you play them without feeling completely random, and that help you feel like a real team that supports each other… not a bunch of folks in each other’s way. And where AI drives not just the enemies but helps drive the entire experience.”
“We think now is the time to change the culture of game development. Make everyone equals, not just in their impact on the project but in how we divide the loot of our success. Relax strict PTO policies because we trust each other to take the time you need. We want to build games that reflect our culture,” Voll stated.
“We are supported by like-minded, patient investors with Kevin at Upfront Ventures as our lead, who has known us for years, working with Chet on a gaming startup board, as well as Riot Games. They love and understand games but more importantly, have time and again backed founder-led and employee-owned tech startups from the beginning towards long-term, independent success.”
The team states that the plan now is to “go dark for a little bit as we start laying the foundation of our new world.”
“We know the direction we’re going. As people join the team, that’ll help find the game more clearly. We’re very iterative, everyone is a designer, everyone participates in the process. Everyone joining will have a big impact on the project. Obviously, we have a plan, there’s a framework that we can hang it all off, but everyone will be able to express themselves and have an impact.”
You can get more details here.