Today marks the launch of emptyvessel, a new independent AAA games studio that is committed to “creating high-quality, meaningful games that feel great to play” and counts veteran developers from top gaming companies, including id Software, Naughty Dog, and Activision, among its staff. Emptyvessel’s first project is an Unreal Engine 5 shooter, one that is inspired by film, graphic novels, and games set in dystopian sci-fi worlds.
Key employees include:
…CEO and Game Director, Emanuel Palalic, and COO and General Manager, Garrett Young. While both served in critical roles at id Software they bonded over the desire to create an environment where developers have the freedom to explore new ideas. Joining Palalic and Young on the studio’s foundational team are CTO Wei Ning , Art Director Alex Palma, Animation Director Rico Flores, and more. emptyvessel is based in Austin, Texas, but operates fully remote with its staff located worldwide – United States, Australia and Europe, to suit the personal needs of each team member.
Quotes from the top:
- Emanuel Palalic
- “Many game developers like myself began our journey fueled by the dream of one day bringing our worlds to life.”
- “By prioritizing and aligning with our strengths, we’re confident it’s possible to create AAA-quality games with smaller, focused teams.”
- “The industry has often overlooked the people who pour their hearts and souls into crafting these worlds. With emptyvessel, we’re determined to change that narrative and make that dream a reality for as many developers as we can.”
- Garrett Young
- “Our industry is at a crossroads between business and talent. At emptyvessel, we take a Developer-First approach to our direction and execution.”
- “We understand every innovation in this industry has been led by a developer taking a risk — every new IP, every billion-dollar franchise. Gaming’s next massive hit can come from anywhere.”
A peek at what emptyvessel’s games might look like:
About emptyvessel:
Comprised of world-class developers who have worked on iconic franchises including DOOM, Quake, Call of Duty, Last of Us, Borderlands, Tomb Raider, Uncharted, Callisto Protocol, and more, the studio aims to share its specialty in the immersive shooter space with its first unannounced title.
A developer-founded, developer-first studio, emptyvessel is driven by its mission to make top-quality games and its passion for taking risks to create new refreshing types of entertainment experiences. emptyvessel aims to break from the traditional business models and work together towards a common vision of a future powered by people and creativity, where the industry is moved forward by teams of great game makers. The studio’s approach is to create a space to foster the innovation of a nimble, core team of AAA-level talent while empowering them to create high-quality IPs with more attainable scope.
Discussion (8 replies)
Join Discussion →Oh wow... so two new triple A studios after the mass exodus.
In this day and age coming from a big studio is not a guarantee of anything. So many talentless hacks can hide in plain sight at these overbloated developers. I'd rather their work speak for itself. I mean just because someone comes from Germany doesn't mean they are a great engineer, despite Germany being known for great engineering.
One thing I've noticed over the years is that "veteran" developers forming a new studio isn't a guarantee of anything. A lot of times they are one hit wonders whos best work has already been done. Destiny & Destiny 2 have certainly been popular, but not to the same degree as Halo. So on their own Bungie never recaptured the magic of their original despite being relatively successful.
There are many examples of this. Respawn is former Infinity Ward guys and while Titanfall and the Jedi Order series were successful, its no Call of Duty. Then there are worst case scenarios like the former id developers that started Ion Storm and ultimately never came up with much of anything. How many times have we heard XYZ is the spiritual successor to ABC game and that new game failed to recapture the magic of the original?
Way too many times.
I've heard this exact scenario at least a dozen times in the past 10 years "new studio by veterans of XYZ" yet I can't recall a single occasion where they actually produced a hit game. They announce their existence with the same fanfare then vanish within 2-3 years without releasing a single game.
I think veterans should be replaced with rejects in most cases.
Bungie is probably the best example of a success story. Though in their case the entire studio split from their overlords leaving Halo behind. To their credit, they didn't try and create a "spiritual successor" to their hit game which always ends up feeling like a copy of a hit game adjusted just enough to keep the lawyers from descending on them. Bungie created a new IP and a game that played nothing like Halo.
While it will never be Halo in terms of pop culture relevance, the Destiny franchise has been successful and like it or not, one of the most successful live service games out there.
The afore-mentioned Respawn entertainment was another success story. Sure, Titanfall was no Call of Duty, but it was reasonably successful and the Fallen Order games were as well. So its not always bad but these things tend to work best when companies go in a new direction rather than trying to capture the magic of games and IP's they no longer have the rights to.
And let's not forget Apex legends is also still doing allright (even though I realy dislike their latest changes)
Also Runic games who made the torchlight series was semi succesfull for a while with some former diablo makers
Was it though?
I don't think Bungie counts, they were not a new studio founded by former devs from another, they just parted with their corporate overlords. Only to be bought out by another but that's another story.