T-Minus Zero Q&A – NetEase’s Latest AAA Team Plans Ambitious Things Never Before Seen in Online Games

wccftech.com:

Less than a month ago, NetEase announced the foundation of T-Minus Zero, its newest triple-A Western studio helmed by industry veterans like Studio Head Rich Vogel (who led development on Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Star Wars: The Old Republic), Game Director Mark Tucker (credited for his work on Crimson Alliance, Doom, and Fallout 76), Art Director Jeff Dobson (who worked on Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dragon Age Inquisition, and Mass Effect Andromeda), and VP of Operations & Production Scott Malone (credited on Doom, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Fallout 76).

I've recently had the pleasure of talking with Rich Vogel and Mark Tucker for more than half an hour. Despite the considerable MMO credits of the founding members, T-Minus Zero won't be making a massively multiplayer online game. Their first project will instead be a session-based third-person action game, although one with a persistent layer wrapped around it.

Interestingly, it will be inspired by a sci-fi IP available in the public domain. Moreover, the developers are planning ambitious features never before seen in multiplayer games, though it was too early to talk specifics.

Of course, our conversation ranged much wider than that, from their engine of choice (UE5) to the potential usage of generative AI, the recent closure of several game studios, their work policy, and more. Keep scrolling to read the whole edited interview.

Can you talk about the foundation of T-Minus Zero?

Rich Vogel: A little over a year ago, Mark and I talked about potentially forming another studio. This is my fourth one. I took a break after my third one, I went to work for Certain Affinity for a little bit.

After a while there, I said, it's time to do this again. Suddenly we