The collaboration surrounding Bruce Straley, the co-director behind The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, is entering a fresh chapter. After parting ways with Naughty Dog in 2017, Straley has launched his own studio, Wildflower Interactive, with the aim of developing small, inventive games that push creative boundaries.
In a concise video outlining the Wildflower origin, Straley explained that he initially stepped back from game development after leaving Naughty Dog. Yet the pull of the industry and the echoes of his prior projects lingered. With a group of friends and colleagues, he began prototyping ideas, and those early experiments progressively evolved into a formal studio venture with a clear creative direction.
The debut project at Wildflower is being developed with the help of valued partners, and the studio has assembled a team of industry veterans who have contributed to prominent titles such as the Call of Duty series, Abzu, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and other well-known games. While Straley has not disclosed many specifics about the game, he hinted that it represents a unique experience unlike anything he has worked on before, signaling a bold new path for the studio. In related news, a separate development initiative has announced the creation of an Olympic Reserve eSports school in Novosibirsk, underscoring the wider growth of competitive gaming. (VG Times — attribution)
As Wildflower proceeds, observers are paying close attention to how the studio balances intimate, creative projects with collaboration across seasoned teams. The aim is to deliver memorable experiences that resonate with players who value innovation and handcrafted design. The project’s momentum illustrates the broader trend of established developers leveraging their experience to chart new directions while maintaining a commitment to quality and experimentation. (VG Times — attribution)
Source: VG Times (VG Times — attribution)