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Devolver Digital co-founder Mike Wilson and medical device expert Ryan Douglas have formed a new studio that will publish therapeutic games to treat mental health issues.
Devolver Digital co-founder, Mike Wilson, and founder and former CEO of international medical device company Nextern, Ryan Douglas, announced they have formed a new company called DeepWell Digital Therapeutics. The new publisher and developer will focus on creating games that "can simultaneously entertain and deliver, enhance, and accelerate treatment for an array of globally pervasive health conditions".
DeepWell intends to publish new games across various platforms as well explore and analyze how existing games might benefit people with mental health issues including PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, and addiction, and cooperate with the developers of potentially appropriate games to improve these mechanics.
The company has an advisory council that consists of almost 40 people medical experts along with the game industry veterans including Tom Hall (Doom), Zoe Flower (Hellbent Games), Rami Ismail (Nuclear Throne), Lorne Lanning (Oddworld), and American McGee (American McGee's Alice).
DeepWell noted that the development would be centered around "engaging gameplay" as it believes it is a crucial point in therapeutic gaming. Wilson explained: "Without engagement, there is no treatment potential for any therapy."
"DeepWell is bringing entertainment and medical science together to build upon the proven fact that video games can be good for you, and, thanks to global digital distribution, they’re an important tool to make treatment affordable and accessible," shared Wilson. "Moreover, with games that are legitimately fun, patients and players will seek out their positive benefits again and again".
The first DeepWell's therapeutic game is already in development and is due to release in 2023.
You can learn more about DeepWell Digital Therapeutics by visiting their official website. Also, don't forget to join our new Reddit page, our new Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, where we are sharing breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.