Former id Software developers have formed employee-owned Hidden Horses after Microsoft’s layoffs at id, according to Shacknews and Rock Paper Shotgun. The team is working on its debut shooter, Danger Pay, and elects its own bosses. Source Source
The studio has roughly 20 developers. Rock Paper Shotgun reports that 20 id Software alumni are on the team, including former principal engine programmer Dustin Land, lead VFX artist Todd Boyce and senior AI and gameplay engineer Daniel Young. Shacknews reports that all current staff are considered co-founders. Source Source
Old-school shooters, less old-school chain of command.
Rock Paper Shotgun, citing the studio’s FAQ, reports that every member owns a share of the company and that leaders are democratically appointed. Producer Andrew Willis described the arrangement to Vertical Slice in an interview quoted by Rock Paper Shotgun: “Our structure is quite flat, and we elect leaders when needed.” Source
Willis said preserving the company and the jobs it sustains takes priority over “needless growth,” describing the business as not being subject to investor demands. “We want to create a vehicle that allows us to make games for our livelihoods, not to make crazy profits and get 100x returns,” he said. Source
Making games and paying the people who make them: an admirably unflashy mission statement.
Danger Pay takes its cues from deadly television
Danger Pay is a single-player first-person shooter influenced by arcade shooter Smash TV and dystopian game-show film The Running Man, according to Rock Paper Shotgun. Hobbyconsolas describes a lethal television contest where audience ratings decide life and death, under the direction of a sinister AI. Even the dystopia has audience metrics. Source Source
A Kickstarter is planned to help fund development. Shacknews describes a project page that can be bookmarked for notifications. Source Source
The November 11 reporting provides no release date or confirmed platforms. Rock Paper Shotgun says screenshots and footage are still to come. Source Source
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