Ex-Ubisoft Barcelona Team Members Establish Dark Ritual Studios, Focusing on Craftsmanship and Agility

Following the release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced in June, Ubisoft downsized its Barcelona studio, eliminating 51 positions. In response, a group of former employees, led by Myles Kerwin, founded Dark Ritual Studios. Kerwin notes that his experience at Ubisoft highlighted the challenges of maintaining agility within a large organization. By establishing an independent studio, the team seeks to preserve its ability to quickly transform ideas into reality. According to Kerwin, great games are not necessarily dependent on enormous teams, and AAA development has become overly complex, leading to slower creative decision-making. In contrast, Dark Ritual Studios aims to prioritize craftsmanship and creativity, with a focus on swift decision-making and a smaller, more experienced team. Based in Barcelona, the studio has secured funding for its debut title, Puzzle Mage, a dark fantasy game set for release on PC in 2027. With over 1,000 wishlists on Steam, Kerwin views this milestone as a positive indication that the game's concept resonates with players. While the studio is not currently seeking additional investment, it is evaluating its long-term strategy, considering self-publishing or partnering with a publisher. Kerwin acknowledges the challenges faced by the gaming industry but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a lean team, realistic scope, and controlled budgets to ensure flexibility and reduce pressure. The studio's goal is to create authentic, well-executed games with clear identities, focusing on building a sustainable business. With encouraging feedback from early playtests, particularly regarding the spell-casting system, Kerwin believes the studio and its debut title will stand out by creating games that genuinely resonate with players, without chasing trends.