Despite the recent release of its most recent episodic game, Tell My Why, in August and September, Dontnod Entertainment isn't content to rest on its laurels. Instead, in its attempts to assert itself as the leader in story-driven gaming experiences, the developer currently has six games lined up, with its self-published Twin Mirror coming out in December.
Dontnod Entertainment's CEO Oska Guilbert explained how the studio is continually growing, noting how six games are currently in production before sharing his pride in how the developer's recent releases have been well-received. The French video game developer's previous games include Life Is Strange, Life Is Strange 2, Vampyre, and Remember Me, as well as the forthcoming Twin Mirror.
Beyond Twin Mirror, Dontnot Entertainment's subsidiary offices in Montreal is busy working on a new intellectual property, with several team members from Life Is Strange working on the project. The other titles hinted at are described as Project 8, Project 9, Project 10, and so forth, with Guilbert noting how the developer's attitude is to not "have all our eggs in one basket."
Reflecting on the French studio's expansion to Montreal, Canada, Guilbert explained how it was essential to be "close to our players in North America." His reasoning is two-fold: not only does it allow them to connect with North American gamers, which he admitted are Dontnod Entertainment's largest player base, it was also a decision based on delivering authenticity that further rooted it stories as its games, like Life Is Strange and Twin Mirror, tend to be set in America.
Eager to take the crown from Telltale Games as the new go-to for interactive storytelling experiences, Guilbert stressed the importance of creating different stories with different directors involved to provide their unique influences and worldviews onto the projects. He also highlighted Dontnod's commitment to continually striving for independence as it continues to reach different audiences and platforms.
"We are not shy. We talk about some themes that are not often used in video games. We can link the values of the studio to more than one franchise, beyond Life is Strange, like with Twin Mirror. Something that is shared is inclusivity and respect for minorities. This is something you can feel in our of our stories."
The lessons learned from Telltale Games rise and fall are prevalent in Dontnot Entertainment's approach, making the studio acutely aware of the importance to "[...] renew the mechanics, the look and feel of our games, and not merely change the narrative." Working diligently to create a sense of trustworthy quality in its games and the stories it tells, Guilbert shared what it is about Dontnot's games that separate them from the competition, pointing to the values in the company and the themes it is willing to explore that other games may shy away from.
Twin Mirror is set for release on Dec. 1, 2020, on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
Source: Dsogaming.com (via VentureBeat)