Home News Media Features Reviews Previews Release Dates Competitions Blogs Forums

Latest Forum Threads

Updated: Uncharted 3, Darksiders staff hired by Retro Studios

Updated: Uncharted 3, Darksiders staff hired by Retro Studios

Posted April 12, 2012 7:36 PM by Arktus

Update: A NeoGAF user has outed another new addition to the Retro Studios team, this time in the form of ex-3D Realms and Gearbox employee Timothy Wilson. According to his Linkedin profile, Wilson had previously worked on AAA titles such as Borderlands and Rage, and is now working as a visual effects artist at Retro Studios on their currently undisclosed project.

rage image.png

Original Story: An avid NeoGAF forum user has uncovered some intriguing information regarding two Retro Studios employees and their yet unannounced title currently in development at the Texas-based studio.

The two employees now working at the studio are ex-Vigil Games and ex-Naughty Dog artists Gray Grinther and Eric Kozlowsky, respectively. Grinther worked as the lead character designer on Darksiders, while Eric Kozlowsky had previously worked on Uncharted 3: Drake's Fortune and Brutal Legend as an environment artist.

What's interesting, however, is the Twitter saga between NeoGAF users and Kozlowsky that has since followed this discovery.

Uncharted 3 Retro Studios.jpg

During August 2011, one month after his initial employment at Retro Studios, Kozlowsky revealed on his blog that the current project he is working on "might just be one of my crowning achievements as an artist". But when when met with this month's buzz surrounding his employment at Retro Studios, Kozlowsky denied speculation that his comment was related to the Retro Studios project, stating via Twitter that the "crowning achievement comment on my blog is about my potentially illustrating my brothers next novel". 

The saga didn't end there, however. Another comment dug up from Kozlowsky's Twitter ambiguously revealed that "crunch time" on the title would occur this year. If Retro Studios is developing a Wii U title, this could indicate that the title's release is scheduled for the Wii U's launch window. Or alternatively, the "crunch" that Kozlowsky speaks of could also refer to a possible demo showing of the title at this year's E3, where Nintendo is expected to unveil the console's "final format" in time for a mid-to-late 2012 release.

Darksiders art.jpg

In the end Kozlowsky's Twitter account was deleted after he proclaimed that "If you're following me to learn about anything Retro you're SOL [simply out of luck]". It remains unclear whether or not the Twitter account was shut down due to Nintendo preemptively trying to preserve a non-disclosure agreement, or just Kozlowsky trying to avoid any further attention from the clamorous crowd of NeoGAF users following his account.

Either way, Retro Studios had previously revealed that its next project would be something that "everyone wants us to do". If the level of craftsmanship in both Grinther's and Kozlowsky's artworks are any indication, the Nintendo developer is truly serious about its next project. Shigeru Miyamoto has commented in the past that "Zelda might be a possible franchise" for a collaboration with Retro Studios, though it remains to be seen whether or not Retro Studios' current project is related to that series.

One thing is for sure: Nintendo is bulking up the manpower of its development ranks in preparation for its maiden voyage into the HD market with the Wii U. Could Retro Studios be its perfect steersman?

We'll keep you updated when any more information regarding Retro Studios' next title surfaces.
Tags
Comments