"We’ll Need More Expedition 33s to Convince Publishers" – One More Level’s Take on Trusting AA Projects

Over the last dozen years, the Warsaw‑based studio One More Level has built a reputation for delivering AA‑grade experiences that often rival the polish of AAA blockbusters. The studio first burst onto the scene with the 2020 cyber‑punk action platformer Ghostrunner, a title that garnered widespread critical praise and sold an estimated 5.6 million copies, according to Video Game Insights. Its sequel arrived in 2023, cementing the studio’s status as a reliable mid‑tier developer. Despite these successes, the broader AA market is under pressure.

In recent years, investment streams have thinned just as competition has intensified. Smaller publishers tend to gravitate toward low‑budget projects—typically under $1 million—while the heavyweight publishers pour resources into evergreen AAA franchises. Even high‑selling AA titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 struggle to secure the financing needed for subsequent mid‑tier releases. "Our hit with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proved we can create a hit, yet publishers still view the AA space as risky," explains Radek Ratusznik, game director at One More Level, in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz at Gamescom.

"We’ll probably need several more Expedition 33‑type successes before the perception shifts. It’s not enough for a single triumph to change the narrative. There are plenty of studios capable of delivering quality AA games without blowing hundreds of millions on development." Ratusznik adds that modern tooling allows developers to produce higher‑quality experiences more efficiently, but cautions against unrealistic timelines.

"The technology lets us iterate faster and maybe shave some costs, but you can’t compress a full production into a single year without sacrificing quality. Proper testing and polishing are still essential, and I doubt many publishers appreciate that constraint." The studio’s latest project, Valor Mortis, illustrates the funding roller‑coaster that many AA developers endure. Originally slated for an October 13 release, Valor Mortis began its publishing journey with 505 Games, the Italian arm of Digital Bros, which handled Ghostrunner and its sequel. However, Digital Bros announced a 30 % workforce reduction in late 2023, casting doubt on future support.

One More Level then signed a deal with Private Division, a Take‑Two subsidiary focused on indie‑scale titles. In 2024, Take‑Two’s leadership, led by Strauss Zelnick, decided to double down on AAA projects, stating, "We’re in the business of making great big hits." Consequently, Private Division scaled back its involvement, and the label’s catalog was eventually sold, re‑emerging as Fictions in 2025. This left One More Level scrambling for a new partner.

Ratusznik admits the studio briefly contemplated self‑publishing Valor Mortis, but quickly realized that maintaining the desired production standards required external backing. "If we want to keep the quality we envision, a publisher’s resources become indispensable," he says. Enter Lyrical Games, a publishing venture spun out of the film company Lyrical Media—the same outfit behind the Hugh Jackman film The Death of Robin Hood.

Formed in 2025 by former Private Division executives Blake Rochkind and Roger Kurtz, Lyrical Games positions itself as an oasis for mid‑tier developers seeking a partner that understands the AA niche. "People tell us we’re like an oasis in a desert, which is both flattering and a bit intimidating," Rochkind told GamesIndustry.biz last year. "When we see a title like Clair Obscur, it embodies exactly the kind of project we want to champion. Having such a game in our catalogue would be a dream." The timing proved ideal for One More Level.

"Blake and Roger remembered us and were already familiar with Valor Mortis," Ratusznik notes. "Their belief in the project gave us a lifeline when other doors were closing." At the time of the funding search, the studio employed roughly 40‑50 staff members. Rather than resort to layoffs during the uncertain period, the team leaned on reserves saved from earlier successes.

"We had enough savings to ride out the storm without trimming the crew, which was a difficult but necessary gamble," Ratusznik explains. "Building a cohesive development team is hard; dismantling it is far easier, and we didn’t want to lose that synergy." By the time Valor Mortis nears launch, the headcount has risen to over 70, though not all employees are dedicated solely to the game; a portion is already working on an undisclosed future title. This growth reflects the studio’s desire to keep most production in‑house, a contrast to many AA developers who rely heavily on external contractors.

For example, Sandfall Interactive, during the creation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, supplemented its core 30‑person team with a large network of freelancers. One More Level’s approach blends selective outsourcing with strong internal capabilities.

Lead designer Łukasz Wabik explains, "We outsource QA and a few marketing assets, but the bulk of art, design, and programming stays within our walls. This gives us tighter control over the final product." Looking ahead, the studio is prepared to scale further if Valor Mortis proves successful.

"If the game performs well, we’ll likely expand, but we don’t intend to leap straight into AAA territory," Ratusznik says. "We want to grow at a pace that lets us maintain creative control and preserve our studio culture." Valor Mortis itself is a first‑person action RPG that blends influences from several celebrated franchises.

Its combat system echoes the unforgiving boss encounters of Dark Souls, while its plasmid‑style abilities recall the biotech powers of BioShock. The most distinctive element, however, is its setting: the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century.

By situating a horror‑tinged narrative within this historic period, the developers aim to differentiate the title in an increasingly saturated market. Ratusznik recounts the search for a fresh backdrop. "We initially toyed with a more familiar, Bloodborne‑like fantasy setting, but we wanted something that felt both recognizable and novel. The Napoleonic era offered that balance." Early narrative concepts even featured a possessed Napoleon, but the team pivoted toward a grounded, war‑focused story with subtle supernatural elements.

"We moved from a dark‑fantasy Napoleonic tale to a horror‑infused war narrative. The fantasy aspects remain, but they’re restrained, allowing the human tragedy of the era to shine through," he explains. First‑person swordplay, combined with the period‑specific aesthetics and horror motifs, constitutes the game’s unique selling points. "Our USP is the blend of historical authenticity, mutation‑driven horror, and visceral combat," Ratusznik says.

"Players get a familiar slice of history but experience it through a fresh, unsettling lens, which has resonated positively in early feedback." In summary, One More Level’s journey—from the triumph of Ghostrunner to the funding turbulence surrounding Valor Mortis—highlights the precarious yet promising landscape of AA development. With the support of niche publishers like Lyrical Games and a steadfast internal team, the studio hopes to demonstrate that mid‑tier titles can still achieve commercial and critical success, encouraging publishers to place greater trust in the AA segment.