NetEase opens new AAA studio BulletFarm led by Treyarch vet David Vonderhaar | Remote-first Studio is headquartered in LA, working on new co-op game

[Gamernyc78]

GameInformer - The Final Level

www.gameinformer.com

NetEase Games has pulled back the curtains on its newest studio, BulletFarm. Led by David Vonderhaar, whose experience includes leading the teams behind the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, BulletFarm aims to develop a new triple-A game that utilizes first-person gameplay with an emphasis on co-op in Unreal Engine 5. It will be set in an original universe.

This unannounced and untitled game will "craft a more intimate and relatable experience while offering a fresh take on first-person gameplay," according to a press release.

BulletFarm is taking a remote-first approach to game development but considers itself a triple-A studio headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Joining Vonderhaar is the studio's creative director Chris Cowell. The studio is currently looking to hire in various roles to fill out the founding team.

"Starting this new studio has given me a chance to step out of my comfort zone and try my hand at making something entirely new and different," Vonderhaar writes in a press release. "This is a departure from the games I've worked on, but one that showcases my passion for rich characters, precise mechanics, more intimate storytelling, and plenty of action. NetEase has provided us an incredible support structure to explore these new avenues and allow true freedom to begin building the concept and ideas for our game."

NetEase president of global investments and partnerships Simon Zhu says the company is fully dedicated to giving BulletFarm the resources and support it requires to build its new first-person experience. "David's leadership and the early collection of game development talent assembled at the studio is set to offer something truly unique for his existing fans along with a new audience."

BulletFarm is currently developing its first title, but there's no word on when to expect to see it.

 

[flaccidsnake]

NetEase Games, probably not an important publisher to most Icon posters:

NetEase Games

NetEase Games is a leading provider of self‐developed PC‐client and mobile games to worldwide users. In partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, Mojang AB (a Microsoft subsidiary) and other global game developers, the company also operates some of the most popular international online games in...

www.neteasegames.com

Considering the description, it sounds like they're trying to take a piece out of Tencent+Riot since they mainly compete as mobile publishers currently.

 

[shrike0fth0rns]

GameInformer - The Final Level

www.gameinformer.com

Hard to get excited for games from unproven studio we won’t released till sometime on the ps6. Tencent also started a studio with industry veterans than shut it down 2yrs later. The last western studio netease created has only shown a cgi I trailer for a game that still yrs away.

 

[Gamernyc78]

Hard to get excited for games from unproven studio we won’t released till sometime on the ps6. Tencent also started a studio with industry veterans than shut it down 2yrs later. The last western studio netease created has only shown a cgi I trailer for a game that still yrs away.

I hear you and true.