Ex-Developers of EA's Cancelled Black Panther Game Join Forces with Wizards of the Coast

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast, disclosed that the company has enlisted a group of developers previously involved in EA's now-cancelled Black Panther game project. This team is headed by Michael de Plater, a seasoned creative director known for his work on Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and other notable titles such as Tom Clancy's EndWar and Rome: Total War. De Plater's experience at Monolith Productions has also been highlighted. Following the cancellation of the Black Panther game and the subsequent closure of Cliffhanger Games in May, Wizards of the Coast has welcomed de Plater and 14 key team members to work on an innovative new game. As stated by Hight, 'We were able to bring him and 14 key people that he's worked with – and many of them at Monolith – to incubate a new game for us.' The project is currently in its early stages, with de Plater set to commence concept development on a novel idea, details of which have not been disclosed. According to Hight, the company aims to provide de Plater with ample time to explore various concepts, adopting a similar approach to their collaboration with Stig Asmussen, director of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and his studio Giant Skull. Hight expressed enthusiasm for de Plater's inclusion in the team, noting that he will eventually be working closely with the rest of the staff at the Seattle headquarters.