Cliff Bleszinski, the former design director at Epic Games, has started a new game studio and is on the cusp of unveiling its first project.
The studio is called Boss Key Productions, and was co-founded with Arjan Brussee, a former producer at EA and a co-founder of Killzone developer Guerrilla Games. Both men had previously collaborated on the Jazz Jackrabbit series of the 90s.
Documents obtained by Polygon show that the new studio will be based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with Bleszinski designated as the CEO and Brussee the COO. The United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that Boss Key Productions goods and services as:
Downloadable multi-player interactive computer game programs; computer and videogame software; downloadable computer and videogame software; downloadable electronic games via the Internet and wireless devices; downloadable computer application software in the field of games; interactive computer and video game programs.
The currently unknown inaugural title is set to be revealed in about a day, according to this countdown timer. The studio’s official website has link to a Twitter page titled “bluestreak,” a potential clue to what this game will be. Last August, Bleszinski released a screenshot that he described as “a sneak peek at something I’m working on.” From the looks of it, and rather expectedly, this new game will be set in the future and involve warfare.
In response to Polygon’s investigative work, Bleszinski said coyly:
I do not comment on rumors and speculation on the birthday of the nation that could allow a game designer to have a fantastic 20 year run at his first studio and then take nearly two years off only to seek out funding and start his new lean, agile, fun startup in Raleigh, N.C.
Bleszinski had spent two decades working at Epic Games on both the Unreal Tournament and Gears of War franchises before deciding that he needed a break and departing the studio on October 3, 2012.
A few months later, he gave an interview to G4, stating that he wanted to return to the gaming scene, albeit with a smaller studio, because he didn’t want to simply be known for the Gears of War franchise:
Moving forward, I would hope to work on something new and fresh and kind of redefine my legacy. Steven Spielberg didn’t want to be known for just E.T., right? So he made a lot of different kinds of things.
Last month, he made the official announcement of his return to the gaming scene.
More information on the Boss Key Productions and their upcoming game are sure to follow in the coming days.