Watchful video game fans caught a recent job switch for a prominent developer. Johny Ljungstedt's Twitter profile currently reads "Senior Art Director on Battlefield V, DICE," but according to an update on Ljungstedt's LinkedIn profile, he's made a move. Ljungstedt will next be a part of Retro Studios, which is currently hard at work on Metroid Prime 4. Ljungstedt doesn't clarify what project he'll be working on at Retro, but Retro has never been known as a multi-project studio.
"Today was my last day at DICE," Ljungstedt revealed on LinkedIn Friday, January 31. "It's with mixed feelings I'm leaving something that's been part of my life for such a long time." Ljungstedt had been with EA for over twelve years after it acquired Pandemic Studios where Ljungstedt had worked for almost three years prior. Before that, Ljungstedt had three more years of experience at EA DICE as a 3D artist. Upon his return EA DICE, Ljungstedt grew into the Art Director position for games including Medal of Honor, Mirror's Edge Catalyst, and most recently Battlefield 5.
Ljungstedt joins a Retro Studios that hasn't put out a new game in six years. Its most recent release is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Nintendo Switch, a 2018 port of Retro's release of the same game on Wii U. Metroid Prime 4 was announced in mid-2017 before going silent. It was then delayed in January 2019, despite having no release window to start with. That Metroid Prime 4 is even still in development at Retro is questioned by some.
Retro has officially been looking for a new Art Director since mid-2019, meaning it turned into a hiring that took well over half of a year. Metroid Prime 4 has been rumored to have been rebooted, so Ljungstedt may be coming onto the project right as it's picking up steam again. Or he could be coming into a project that has a running start. Whatever the state of Retro's current project, it must have been very alluring to pull Ljungstedt away from his position at such a big studio as EA DICE.
For fans, there's a lot to consider with Ljungstedt's move. Ljungstedt's experience is largely built around military shooters. Retro projects, including Metroid Prime and Donkey Count Country, are a stark contrast to that. Perhaps Retro is looking to go for a more militarized style for Metroid Prime 4, or perhaps Ljungstedt plans to expand his boundaries. On the EA DICE front, the studio will also have to be making some changes. Perhaps Battlefield 6 will entertain some fresher ideas, though that seems unlikely.
Updates on Ljungstedt and his work at Retro Studios will likely have to wait until whatever project the team is working on is further into development. That is likely years away.
Metroid Prime 4 has no release window but is coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Source: VideoGamesChronicle