NetEase Games has announced its newest triple-A game development studio, BulletFarm. As a “remote-first” developer located in Los Angeles, California, it’s led by David Vonderhaar, known for his work on Call of Duty (specifically the Call of Duty: Black Ops series).
The developer is working on a new first-person title in an original universe with co-op gameplay as the focus. It’s developed on Unreal Engine 5, and given how renowned the Black Ops series was for Zombies, this may be similar. BulletFarm’s creative director is another game design veteran, Chris Cowell, but there are currently several openings for key roles.
In a press release, Vonderhaar said, “Starting this new studio has given me a chance to step out of my comfort zone and try my hand at making something entirely new and different. This is a departure from the games I’ve worked on, but one that showcases my passion for rich characters, precise mechanics, more intimate storytelling, and plenty of action. NetEase has provided us with an incredible support structure to explore these new avenues and allow true freedom to begin building the concept and ideas for our game.”
Simon Zhu, president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase Games, added, “NetEase Games is fully dedicated to giving BulletFarm the resources and support required to build this new first-person experience. David’s leadership and the early collection of game development talent assembled at the studio are set to offer something truly unique for his existing fans along with a new audience.”
Vonderhaar joins the likes of Mass Effect lead writer Mac Walters (Worlds Untold), Control lead designer Paul Ehreth (Anchor Point Studios) and Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi (Nagoshi Studio) in working with NetEase Games. Check out BulletFarm’s official website here and stay tuned for more updates.