Former Witcher, Cyberpunk Devs Form New Studio, Rebel Wolves

pcmag.com:

Fans of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 may have something to look forward to, as a number of ex-CD Projekt Red developers have teamed up for a new game studio.

The studio, named Rebel Wolves, is from The Witcher 3 director and Cyberpunk co-director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, and it's currently working on a new dark fantasy RPG built in Unreal Engine 5, IGN reports. The team behind it will include a lot of talent from The Witcher franchise, including former design, narrative, animation, and art directors. 

“Our goal is clearly defined: to create memorable games, tell moving stories, and evoke visceral emotions," narrative director Jakub Szamalek tells IGN.

The team also wants to move away from the tactics employed by typical AAA games—namely, the harsh working conditions some studios have imposed to release games on a certain timeline. “We’re developing a video game we’d like to play in a way that games should be made,” Tomaszkiewicz tells IGN. The planned game likely won’t be as big as The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, as Tomaszkiewicz wants the studio to stay “small and agile."

Still, the Rebel Wolves team has seen its share of drama. Prior to starting Rebel Wolves, Tomaszkiewicz was under investigation at CD Projekt Red for bullying, IGN reports. Though he was cleared of any wrongdoing after a long-term investigation, he resigned from the studio and acknowledged the fear, stress, and discomfort people had working with him.

For Rebel Wolves, Tomaszkiewicz has put together a team of friends, and the studio’s mission statement says it aims to “create a studio where developers can thrive, united by a common goal and a sense of camaraderie.” Whether that comes to pass or creates a cliquey atmosphere remains to be seen. There's