ArenaNet, Undead Labs Founder Jeff Strain Opens New Studio

Business veteran Jeff Pressure has opened Chance House, a brand new sport growth studio embracing distant work to attract on expertise from world wide. 

Pressure is a former Blizzard developer, having co-founded ArenaNet, the studio behind Guild Wars, over 20 years in the past. He additionally based Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay that Microsoft acquired in 2018. Chance House has already gathered up some spectacular expertise, too, that includes former builders from Campo Santo, Ubisoft, Insomniac, Double Tremendous, BioWare, EA, and extra. 

“We felt this was the best time to create one thing new – a studio constructed from the bottom as much as embrace evolving wants and views for each gamers and builders,” Pressure writes in a press launch. “Like many others, the previous 12 months and a half has been a fraught time for me. Whereas I’m grateful that my household is protected, the anxiousness, concern, and isolation of the final 18 months has been nearly insufferable at instances. That concern and isolation was the catalyst for Chance House, a contemporary form of sport studio, the place we’re making a joyful sport that’s been my dream for a few years.” 

That COVID-19-related anxiousness additionally seemingly impressed Pressure to make Chance House a “distributed sport growth studio” that permits “builders to reside and work wherever they need.” Whereas the corporate welcomes distant work, Chance House will probably be primarily based in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Among the expertise becoming a member of Pressure at Chance House consists of Firewatch’s former lead setting artist, Jane Ng, who additionally served as an artist on Half-Life: Alyx. Ng is Chance House’s visible director. Liz England, who beforehand labored because the lead designer of Watch Canines: Legion and on Sundown Overdrive, will be part of the studio as its narrative techniques design director. Making the leap from video games media to sport growth, former Waypoint editor-in-chief Austin Walker will work as Chance House’s IP director. 

Past its dedication to distant work, which opens the doorways to builders worldwide, Chance House additionally goals to serve underserved communities the place its builders may reside. 

“[Possibilty Space] is constructed from the bottom up as a distributed studio, permitting employees to reside the place they wish to reside and work the place they need whereas supporting the communities they love,” a press launch concerning the studio reads. “Based mostly in New Orleans, Louisiana, the studio additionally works to determine, mentor, prepare, and rent people from underserved and missed communities and backgrounds.” 

At the moment’s information comes two months after Pressure referred to as for the gaming business to unionize in gentle of the continued lawsuit towards Activision Blizzard, citing that “sufficient is sufficient.” Within the open letter the place Pressure mentioned this, he additionally mentioned that he welcomes his personal staff to unionize and that they’ve his “full endorsement.”

Are you excited to see what Chance House is cooking up? Tell us within the feedback under!