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Long-time Naughty Dog director Bruce Straley has unveiled his new studio Wildflower Interactive with its first game currently in production.
The new studio comes after Straley spent five years removed from the industry after departing Naughty Dog in 2017. During his tenure he co-directed many of the studio’s biggest games, including Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us. He explained his decision in a video accompanying the announcement. “In 2017 I left the industry, not sure if I wanted to make games anymore. But, the longer I was away, I kept thinking about this medium and everything yet to be done and everything I wanted to do still.”
Straley spent the interim prototyping his ideas with friends. It turns out these prototypes excited his passion once more, and so he set to turn it into a game by establishing a new team and company. “And, well, if we’re going to do that, then we have to do it the right way”. Straley says that the new studio will be “inclusive, equitable and collaborative.” A place where the culture is “as iterative as the way we make games”.
According to their website, Wildflower Games intends to make “‘small-ish,’ creatively-charged, uniquely-stylized games that explore the possibilities of our medium.” The team already has what Straley calls “an exciting partner” – and has assembled a team of veterans. Some of the games these veterans have worked on include Call of Duty, Abzu, Kena: Bridge of Spirits and more. However, they’re still hiring – and invite anyone who wants to get on board to apply via their website.
There’s no word yet on when we can expect the first Wildflower Interactive title, but hopefully we’ll hear more soon. In the meantime, check out their announcement video for yourself below.
