NEWS

Ex-Relic, Bioware, Riot, Volition devs form studio and announce first title


Raphael van Lierop, game industry veteran, has announced the formation of independent developer Hinterland Studio. The ex-Relic, Bioware, Riot, Volition veterans have collectively worked on over 40 triple-A games and are pleased to announce development of their first title, The Long Dark.

“The Long Dark is a first-person post-disaster survival simulation, set in the aftermath of a geomagnetic super storm that has destroyed North America’s technology infrastructure. In the first season of this episodic series, players experience this grim new reality through the eyes of bush pilot William Mackenzie, isolated with other survivors in the Northern wilderness as a result of the event. Gameplay emphasizes exploration to gather resources and knowledge about the world, while mastering a deep survival simulation to overcome the myriad natural and man-made hazards of the new frontier. Players will also face difficult moral choices that will affect the outcome of gameplay, story, and ultimately, the course of humanity’s recovery.”

Hinterland will be launching a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter on September 16 to raise additional funds for the game’s development, and to launch its community-outreach initiative.

Hinterland Studio’s core team includes, Alan Lawrance (Volition), Hokyo Lim (Riot), David Chan (Bioware) and Marianne Krawczyk.