A group of veteran developers formed a new studio in Canada with the purpose of developing games with deep narratives that can expand into other mediums.
The new developer is Hinterland Studio, and the company’s first game is The Long Dark, which it describes as an episodic survival-sim game. It’s first-person adventure for PC. Hinterland plans to make games, like The Long Dark, that explore mature themes, and the company is already in talks to bring this new world to other mediums.
The Long Dark explores a world where an electromagnetic pulse collapses all technology.
“Imagine the lights go out, never to return,” reads Hinterland’s website. “Bright aurora flare across the sky, and all humanity’s technological might is laid to waste, neutralized in a kind of quiet apocalypse. Everything that has shielded humanity from the disinterested power of Mother Nature is suddenly wrenched from us, dropping us a few links down the food chain. Food and water are scarce. The roads are no longer safe. And winter approaches.”
Hinterland founder Raphael van Lierop formed the studio in 2012. He formerly worked at developer Relic on games like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes. He brought in talent from all over the industry to help flesh out Hinterland. The company comprises developers with experience at studios like Volition, BioWare, and Riot.
The studio intends to crowdfund The Long Dark. It will add those funds to a $647,623 grant the Canada Media Fund provided the company. The Kickstarter campaign launches Sept. 16.