Giant Skull
After a manna from heaven of video recording biz studio foundings , accomplishment , and developer recruiting in the late 2010s and early 2020s , the industriousness is channelize in the opposite direction . Acquisitions have slowed down , layoffs happenmultiple times a week , and news ofcanceled project and studio closureshas catch that of studio announcements . During this time , an industry ex-serviceman and game director behind titles likeGod of War 3andStar Wars Jedi : Survivorhas started a Modern studio
Stig Asmussen left Respawn Entertainmentin September 2023 . At the time , we did n’t know what was next , but this morning , Asmussen announced that he had establish a new studio apartment call Giant Skull alongside veterans from companies like Respawn Entertainment and Epic Games . That team is now at one on creating its first title , an action - adventure plot that Giant Skull is keeping under wraps for now . Prior to the announcement , I speak with Asmussen to learn more about this AAA studio emerging at a time when the video secret plan industry is struggle .
No regrets
“ This musical theme of being able-bodied to set out a studio apartment from the ground up with really good people and to be able to specify the culture , the types of games that we ’re give way to make , and the types of players that we need to speak to , it really resonated with me , ” Asmussen tell Digital Trends . “ I just could n’t countenance it go . ”
From my conversation with Asmussen , it became clear that this is n’t a former AAA developer attempting to chance upon out on his own for a small self-governing production . He was reached out to with a studio apartment - founding chance — something that ’s getting increasingly rare for telecasting game developers — and Asmussen decided to squeeze it . He tells us leaving Respawn was a “ difficult decision ” because he was well-chosen form there and not attempt to “ scarper away from anything . ”
“ One of my mottos is ‘ no regrets , ’ and I felt like if I did n’t take this chance , then I would always look back , wish about what could have been , and perhaps was n’t going to be the best interpretation of myself , ” he say . “ Something of this scale , there are people that I ’m partnering with , and it ’s actually an incredible support group . That ’s making indisputable we can focus on being creative and not have the friction that usually would be involve with starting up a new studio . ”
As for what projects the developers on the squad are focused on , Asmussen confirmed that Giant Skull is starting as a one - game studio apartment and that it ’s making a single - player natural process - adventure game that plays from a third - person perspective . He believes action risky venture games should be “ about taking a actor on for a ride and call for them to look around , probe the Earth , and ask questions , ” a sentiment that surely practice to hisStar Wars Jedi games . He wants Giant Skull ’s games to “ have a certain pace and momentum to them , so you are always drive and you feel like you want to move forward . ”
We ’re not going to go out and render to make a flight of steps simulator .
During our conversation , Asmussen underscore that he ’s not interested in go after industry trends like live service and or else embraces what he have a go at it his team can execute well . He also has no qualms about double down on single - thespian AAA game .
“ We ’re not going to go out and stress to make a trajectory simulator ; we ’re not undecomposed at that . We ’re going to focalise on the character of game that we ’re good at , ” Asmussen explain . “ And especially for the first secret plan , we ’re go to be challenging , but we ’re going to build upon thing that we ’ve done in the past rather than hear to create things that might be a small bit more geographic expedition for us . That ’s not about thin aspiration because I think we ’ve proven that we can do premium tone AAA games and handcrafted experiences , and that ’s always difficult to do . ”
The giant skull of a struggling industry
Giant Skull ’s introduction results from a long - gestating program to demonstrate a new AAA studio apartment that has procure funding and is n’t facing the same strugglesother game companies face in 2024 . Asmussen say the layoff wave the picture game manufacture is facing flop now is “ tough , ” citing his own experience with biz cancellations , studio shutdowns , and knowing masses impacted by this current bustle of video plot diligence layoffs .
He also points out that “ when you have 30 great games come out in one year in one infinite , there are only so many games that an individual can buy , and maybe those games cannibalise each other to a sealed extent . ” Giant Skull ’s first game is still eld off , so the picture plot manufacture will belike be in a unlike shoes when its first game come out . Still , it ’s notable that Giant Skull seems to be in a expert station at a time when many other studio are fight .
Asmussen order the squad is currently 30 people and desire Giant Skull to stay “ skimpy and mean ” for now in its early stage . While Giant Skull has an office in Los Angeles , Asmussen also says he ’s open to employee doing distant work at a time when fellowship likeBlizzard EntertainmentandRockstarare force their employees to play at the studio apartment , much to the chagrin of those developers .
“ I believe there ’s a lot to be learn from COVID . The most of import matter is having freedom and being capable to work the room and operate the way that ’s go to be undecomposed for your personal life . In turn , that will probably admit you to do best as an mortal on the team . ” Asmussen go on to tell me that mass are the most important thing to report for when building a studio apartment , which is refreshing to hear when it feels like the leaders at telecasting game company see their proletarian as little more than number on a spreadsheet
Although many of the studio struggling correctly now ca n’t cope with Giant Skull ’s situation of have support before the presently tumultuous tempest of the video game industry , there is something to be Asmussen ’s approach shot of seizing useable opportunities and having the support of people who want you to be originative . Hopefully , those sort of studio survive the troubled period the video game diligence is in the middle of .
