Jen Oneal, J. Allen Brack, and John Donham Form New Studio, Working on First Game
A new studio, Magic Soup Games, is here to create “original AAA games that are genuinely uplifting and inclusive for players around the world”, according to a press release. The team behind it will be familiar to lots of players–former Blizzard veterans J. Allen Brack, John Donham, and Jen Oneal.
The three each departed Blizzard during some difficult times, some of which made headlines. Now, with distance from those events, Magic Soup has been formally unveiled. The studio is already working on an unannounced game.
Oneal takes the role of CEO at the new company, and according to J. Allen Brack, “Jen has great experience as a team builder, culture driver, and game maker. John and I are thrilled that she's helming the company”. Yet, all of the three co-founders will have leadership roles with a specific focus.
According to an interview with VentureBeat, Oneal responded to questions about how it felt to move to something new after 20 years at Blizzard. After discussing her commitment to diversity initiatives in and outside of gaming, including helping women in games, she spoke of the connection with Brack that helped lead to this new venture.
“That was part of the journey, feeling like we were going through this big change together. We have bonded over our love of making games and figured out that together we can make the company we always wanted to make with the kind of team we always wanted to work with.”
Brack, for his part, reaffirms being ready to jump into something entirely new, but still believes that Blizzard has potential. “I still believe Blizzard can re-emerge as a haven for creatives with a positive culture for all employees”. He also sheds some light on how the company became a reality, via a shared moment
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