Former Bethesda Developer Establishes Something Wicked Games

The Gamescom Opening Night Live event showcased the first teaser trailer for Wyrdsong, the inaugural title from Something Wicked Games, founded by Jeff Gardiner, a veteran Bethesda developer who worked on The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. Gardiner describes Wyrdsong as a 'dark, preternatural historical fantasy open-world RPG set in medieval Portugal,' allowing players to question reality and explore the land with the freedom to choose their gender and race. Gardiner left Bethesda to explore new opportunities, including starting his own company, which received a $13.2 million seed round from Netease. Something Wicked Games currently has around 15 employees, with plans to grow to 65-70 people, using Unreal Engine 5 and potentially outsourcing tasks to keep the team size manageable. Gardiner emphasizes the importance of giving team members ownership and autonomy to foster creativity, avoiding the pitfalls of large studios where individuals can feel lost. He acknowledges the challenges of creating an open-world AAA RPG with a smaller team but plans to scope the game realistically to meet player expectations. Gardiner aims to create a game that can be supported and expanded upon in the future, with a focus on putting out a great initial product that will attract and retain players. He draws inspiration from From Software's Elden Ring, which successfully allowed players to discover and learn through experimentation. Regarding the trend of consolidation in the gaming industry, Gardiner believes that acquisitions can be positive if done with good intent, citing Microsoft's approach as a good example. He also notes that this trend has led to the establishment of new studios like Something Wicked Games, which can take risks and create innovative content. Gardiner prioritizes diversity in recruiting, recognizing the industry's historical lack of diversity, and aims to create a crunch-free environment that prioritizes employee wellbeing and autonomy.