Veterans from Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog Launch Near Studios

A group of seasoned developers from renowned gaming studios Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog have collaborated to establish Near Studios, a new US-based game development company. Heather Cerlan, who previously served as lead 3D artist at Skydance New Media and held senior art positions at Wizards of the Coast's Archetype Entertainment, Bethesda Game Studios, Naughty Dog, and EA, leads the studio as CEO and creative director. Jason Richardson, co-founder and game director, brings his experience as lead designer at Funcom and systems and gameplay designer at Bethesda and BioWare. The team has also enlisted the expertise of Bruce Nesmith, Skyrim's lead designer, to contribute to their debut project, Hawthorn. Described by early players as a unique fusion of Skyrim's sandbox elements and Stardew Valley's village simulation, Hawthorn promises an immersive experience. According to Richardson, "Hawthorn is designed around a thriving village of NPCs and cooperative gameplay, aiming to recapture the magic of shared adventures and the simple joys that bring people together across generations."