Laid-off id Software devs form Hidden Horses, launch Kickstarter for Danger Pay
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
GamesIndustry.biz reports that more than 20 developers, artists, and designers formerly at id Software have formed an employee-owned studio called Hidden Horses and are launching a Kickstarter to fund their single-player FPS Danger Pay. The studio is described as employee-owned so staff can have an ownership stake in their work, a structure co-founder and executive producer Andrew Willis says will increase commitment. GamesIndustry.biz reports Hidden Horses formed after those staff were affected by Xbox's mass layoffs and intends to use Kickstarter funds to cover "the typical things needed to start a business." The studio says it aims to empower individual developers while keeping focused decision-making to build ambitious games, according to GamesIndustry.biz.
- What happened: GamesIndustry.biz reports that over 20 former id Software developers, artists, and designers formed an employee-owned studio named Hidden Horses and are launching a Kickstarter to fund their first project, the single-player FPS Danger Pay.
- Why it matters: GamesIndustry.biz reports Hidden Horses is structured to give staff ownership stakes and, per co-founder/executive producer Andrew Willis, to foster greater commitment from developers who share in the studio's success.
- Context: GamesIndustry.biz reports the group formed following Xbox's mass layoffs and that the Kickstarter will be used to pay for "the typical things needed to start a business," as stated in the article.
- What next: GamesIndustry.biz reports Hidden Horses is launching a Kickstarter for Danger Pay, but the article does not specify the Kickstarter launch date, funding target, platforms, or a release timetable.
What changed
GamesIndustry.biz reports that a team of more than 20 people who previously worked at id Software have established Hidden Horses, an employee-owned studio, and are seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter for their first title, Danger Pay, a single-player first-person shooter.
Before and after
Before: GamesIndustry.biz reports the developers were affected by Xbox's mass layoffs while at id Software. After: The same report states they formed Hidden Horses to give employees an ownership stake and to pursue ambitious game development with focused decision-making.
Limits
- GamesIndustry.biz reports Hidden Horses will launch a Kickstarter, but the article does not provide the Kickstarter launch date or funding goal.
- The article does not specify target platforms, release dates for Danger Pay, or detailed team roles beyond "developers, artists, and designers."
- The phrase "the typical things needed to start a business" is reported in GamesIndustry.biz as the intended use for funds; no detailed budget breakdown is provided.