Blizzard Veterans Form New Game Development Studio Called Notorious Studios

Another group of former Blizzard Entertainment developers have started their own development studio called Notorious Studios. The newly-created studio is made up of industry veterans that have worked on some of Blizzard’s most popular games, including World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. In fact, the studio’s name is a nod to several of the developers’ World of Warcraft guild of the same name.

“Ultimately we’re all really world-builders on our team. We like building worlds. That’s what our focus is going to be in our first title,” said former WoW Game Designer and now Studio Head Chris Kaleiki in an interview with VentureBeat. As to what that game is, all we know is that it’s a multiplayer RPG with third person action combat.

According to Kaleiki, the studio’s goals revolve around giving players a core RPG fantasy experience and solid multiplayer gameplay with a focus on great combat. They’ve also adapted a “team first, then players” policy in light of the sexual harassment and gender discrimination accusations against their old company.

“The challenges that Blizzard’s had that have been unearthed in the last several months or so have been really troubling, hard to hear about,” said Kaleiki. “It affects us as well, even though we’ve been out of Blizzard for a while.”

“What’s important is starting a culture and having no tolerance for harassment and things like that, and also being transparent and open. We’re aspiring to do a flatter structure. None of us are leads or directors,” he added. “Previously in our careers we were all individual contributors. We were the ones who’d just build or code or make art or design things. We aspire to have that flatter structure where we don’t have a rigid hierarchy. Harassment usually comes from a subordinate-superior sort of relationship. We’re hoping that flatter structure can address some of those problems.”

The game is being backed by Galaxy Interactive and Riot Games, both of which have invested in the new studio.

Chris Kaleiki himself introduces Notorious Studios in the video below. You can also head over to the studio’s official site for more info.