Full-service sport improvement studio Blind Squirrel Video games has acquired Distributed Growth, a service-based studio in Colombia that shall be renamed Blind Squirrel Video games Colombia.
Irvine, California-based Blind Squirrel Video games is understood for titles like Bioshock: The Assortment and Mass Impact: Legendary Version. It’s additionally engaged on the upcoming authentic studio sport Cosmorons.
The brand new hub expands Blind Squirrel’s attain to Manizales, Colombia (about an hour’s flight from both Medellin or Bogota, and it offers Blind Squirrel Video games extra of a worldwide footprint. It now has groups in California, Texas, and New Zealand, enabling the studio to satisfy a strategic enterprise objective of offering cost-effective, premium triple-A improvement companies.
“Blind Squirrel Games Colombia marks an important milestone for our studio as we celebrate our 15th anniversary,” stated Blind Squirrel Video games CEO and Founder Brad Hendricks, in a press release. “We’ve grown into a worldwide network of development excellence, increasing not just our capacity, but our creative POV and technical capabilities to provide incredible value to our partners. With Blind Squirrel Games Colombia working hand-in-hand with our other teams, we’re now able to deliver unmatched efficiency in addition to market-leading innovation for all of our projects.”
Brad Hendricks is CEO of Blind Squirrel Video games.
Previously working as Distributed Growth (identified for its deep software program improvement experience with shoppers comparable to Microsoft), Blind Squirrel Video games Colombia will proceed to be overseen by its earlier studio head, Eric Herrera, who takes on the function of studio director.
“Over those 15 years, we’re really trying to set the standard for excellence in video game development. We really pioneered what I would say is the co-development space. We bridge the gap into the triple-A space. And now we’re really focusing not only that co-development effort, but we’re also looking at creating original IP,” Hendricks stated in an interview with GamesBeat.
Hendricks stated the corporate is now making an attempt to make a reputation for itself as a model. And it’s increasing into the world to rent new expertise it could possibly discover all over the world.
“We were lucky enough to work with Eric’s team in Colombia on a project we were on with Playside, and it had a very successful launch, and we got a chance to work with him for a year or year and a half,” Hendricks stated. “I thought they were super talented, a solid group of engineers, and so we approached them about an acquisition. Eric was amenable to it and there you have it.”
Primarily based within the rising online game improvement neighborhood of Manizales, Colombia, Blind Squirrel Video games Colombia appears to develop considerably in 2025 to 25 to 30 staff in a brand new location inside the metropolis. It’s a younger studio that may rent a number of college graduates in a spot the place gaming nonetheless feels recent.
Against this, Blind Squirrel Video games relies within the U.S. and is in its fifteenth yr as a boutique studio engaged on high-quality video games. It has 98 individuals now and can seemingly develop to round 140 within the coming months.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Blind Squirrel Games over the past year on the multiplayer co-development for the PlaySide Studios title, Age of Darkness: Final Stand and other projects to explore a potential partnership,” stated Blind Squirrel Video games Colombia Studio Director Eric Herrera. “As our teams easily collaborated with one another, it became clear that formally joining forces would be mutually beneficial. Beyond our studio initiatives, we also look forward to also playing a central role in nurturing and growing talent in the region.”
Herrera stated in an interview with GamesBeat that working along with Blind Squirrel Video games was a “fantastic experience at every level.” They discovered that Blind Squirrel’s staff had gifted engineers and producers that made issues a lot simpler.
“When working together, it was like the synergy was amazing from the start, then at the next level, we found the leadership here,” Herrera stated. “The leadership team really makes it a point to care about the individual. We were contractors. We were not even employees, and they cared so much that we were pretty much amazed.” “
He famous that the Blind Squirrel staff evaluated the people (for issues like well being and wellbeing) at Distributed Growth and supplied suggestions. They used mature processes and balanced each high quality for the shopper and respect for the pursuits of these engaged on initiatives, Herrera stated.
“This is something that you wouldn’t find easily. We’re part of a breeding ground for great game ideas and products. I’m really excited that at some point we will be able to participate in the process of creating original IP,” Herrera stated.
“Under Eric’s indelible leadership, his team has produced amazing work and custom-built technology,” added Hendricks. “We’re excited to push the boundaries of what we’re able to create together.”
Specializing in engineering innovation, Blind Squirrel Video games Colombia has pioneered an Unreal Engine-based AI software that’s being carried out throughout the studio’s techniques globally. The proprietary software appears to optimize mission output efficiencies, together with lowering port completion occasions.
The acquisition has closed with phrases not publicly disclosed. Hendricks stated there are some secret initiatives he can’t discuss, together with model new IP. The expansion is uncommon in gaming in the meanwhile. It’s not dramatic, however in comparison with the final two years, it’s an enchancment, Hendricks stated.
One of many video games that Blind Squirrel Video games is engaged on is State of Decay 3, a title that shall be revealed by Microsoft.
There are massive rivals on the market like Key phrases and Virtuos with 1000’s of staff engaged on exterior improvement.
“We’re on a lot of projects right now that require multiple outsourced teams and Keywords is always part of a lot of those projects that we’re on. So we’re coexisting fine. I think we carve out our niche and each team sort of does their thing, and we do ours,” Hendricks stated. “We’re very heavy in design and production management and engineering. Everybody has their niche, so we’re all working together collaboratively.”
The Cosmorons sport has gotten good suggestions so removed from the neighborhood, with a 70% optimistic score. And the Xbox model doesn’t but have co-op that shall be essential to gamers.
“We’re going to build an audience over the course of the next several months, through an early access approach on Steam,” he stated. “We’re going to continue to expand on the project itself, as well as get feedback from the community about what features they’d like to see. And then hopefully sometime next year, we’ll try to go full launch.”
One of many advantages of working in Colombia is that the labor doesn’t price as a lot — maybe a 3rd of the price in California. However Hendricks stated his staff might have opened a brand new studio in lots of different locations that seemingly can be cheaper. The rationale it clicked effectively with Distributed Growth is that the staff was very gifted, Hendricks stated.
Herrera’s staff acquired its begin a decade in the past and it has labored on video games like Age of Darkness: Closing Stand, in addition to different initiatives for Nickelodeon. It labored on GI Joe Black Ops, after which Herrera’s agency additionally labored by itself inside IP, which was a social buying and selling card sport.
A lot of the expertise involves the college after which leaves for jobs in different areas. However Herrera desires to persuade of us to remain within the space and get jobs in gaming.
“We believe Eric can do find the talent,” Hendricks stated.
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Author : tech365
Publish date : 2025-02-06 01:42:37
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