Support NeoGAF

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Chinese conglomerate NetEase has been acquiring and establishing video game studios for a few years now, and we're starting to hear more about the fruits of those labors. Earlier this month, NetEase announced the founding of T-Minus Zero Entertainment, led by BioWare and Bethesda veteran Rich Vogel, which is working on an "online multiplayer-focused third-person action" game. Now, thanks to a new interview, we have a few additional pieces of information, including that it's not technically a new IP.

Speaking to VGC, game director Mark Tucker said that the project is "based on a public domain IP that is recognized globally. It's going to be a third-person IP. We're going to make it our own and add our own personality to it. You'll instantly recognize the inspiration behind it, but it will be its own unique thing".

Vogel went into further detail about what the team is looking to build, saying that it will be a "game as a service title that players will talk about for a while and form lasting relationships with". However, it won't be a battle royale or feature grinding as a core focus, as those won't be "truly innovative" by the time the project launches.

VGC theorizes that the project might be based on H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which several indie developers have previously or are currently already taking a tilt at. However, as public domain usually applies 70 years from the creator's passing, other works from Wells are possibilities, as are the likes of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne, The Last Man by Mary Shelley, or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, all of which could make for a novel multiplayer experience.

Whatever the project and IP is, we're unlikely to learn anything concrete for quite some time, as T-Minus Zero is still staffing up. T-Minus Zero is a promising team with the first-party backing of NetEase, though, so we'll keep an eye out for more details on this multiplayer project as they emerge.

NetEase Studio Working on Well Known Public Domain IP as Sci-Fi Multiplayer Game - The Escapist

NetEase recently announced a new studio called T-Minus Zero Entertainment, and we now have the very first details of its multiplayer game.

www.escapistmagazine.com

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

NetEase Shuts Down T-Minus Zero Entertainment Two Years After Its Foundation

NetEase Shuts Down T-Minus Zero Entertainment Two Years After Its Foundation

NetEase has shut down T-Minus Zero Entertainment, an Austin-based game developer founded by former BioWare and Bethesda veterans.

wccftech.com

"We deeply appreciate NetEase for providing us with both ample runway and support - from helping us find potential investors to giving us the time and budget to develop our game into a fully playable hands-on demo. It has generated a lot of interest. However, despite this progress, current market conditions have prevented us from securing the funding we need at this time.​

​

In these moments, you can't help but reflect on how our team has overcome obstacles and transformed them into something groundbreaking. The dedication and passion each team member brought were the foundation of our success. The amount of work we achieved in creating a playable demo was truly impressive, demonstrating the strength of what our team can accomplish. We recognize that now may not be the best time to seek funding given today's climate, but our playable demo proves our potential to develop something fresh and exciting that will resonate with players for years. We take pride in the solid foundation we've built together."​

​

---