Showing posts with label Open world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open world. Show all posts

FTS: Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures' AAA Open-World "A BETTER PARADISE" Game

 

Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures’ AAA Open-World Game Set in the A BETTER PARADISE Universe

 Smilegate expands partnership with former GTA creative director Dan Houser for global AAA publishing

New game set in A BETTER PARADISE universe in development, funded by Smilegate

August 6, 2025 – Smilegate today announced that it has signed an agreement with Dan Houser’s Absurd Ventures to globally publish the studio’s upcoming AAA, open-world, sci-fi action-adventure game, set in its mind-bending A BETTER PARADISE universe. The partnership follows Smilegate’s strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, announced last year.

A BETTER PARADISE is an expansive universe created by Absurd Ventures, the company founded by Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, the former creative director and lead writer of the GRAND THEFT AUTO and RED DEAD REDEMPTION franchises, among others. Building on the studio’s talent for crafting incredible narrative worlds and characters, A BETTER PARADISE has already spawned a hit audio fiction series, A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath, which debuted at the top of Apple’s Fiction charts and won the 2024 Signal Award for Best Episode of Scripted Fiction. Absurd Ventures is also releasing a novelization of the first volume of A BETTER PARADISE’s story, due out in October 2025.

Currently in early development, the video game is being written and creative directed by Houser alongside his worldbuilding and creative team which includes longtime collaborators Lazlow, and Michael Unsworth. The game’s development at Absurd Ventures is being led by veteran studio head Greg Borrud who was previously General Manager of Niantic and co-founder of Pandemic Studios. Houser and Borrud have been building an elite team at Absurd Ventures studios and the A BETTER PARADISE game project boasts senior game development talent with previous experience from Bungie, Treyarch, Respawn, Insomniac, Riot, and more, with lead credits on best-in-class action and adventure games such as Call of DutyDestiny 2ValorantSpider-Man 2Hogwarts Legacy, and many others.

With a top-tier development team, Absurd is officially in development on this new AAA game, driven by an ambitious and exciting creative vision. The company expects Smilegate’s expertise and experience, as proven by its success in the global gaming industry, to bring strong synergy to their strategic publishing partnership. Following its equity investment in Absurd Ventures last year, Smilegate plans to make a full-scale investment, including development funding, into the A BETTER PARADISE project to help ensure its global success. 

Sung Joon-ho, CEO of Smilegate, said:

“We are thrilled to take on this new challenge in the global AAA game market alongside Dan Houser and Absurd. We are confident that the strong storytelling of the ABP universe combined with the development capabilities of the Absurd team will result in an outstanding title. We are a company with a developer-first DNA and truly understand what development studios need,” he emphasized. “Through our partnership with Absurd, we will fully support the A Better Paradise game project and do our utmost to help create a new title that will be loved by players around the world. Smilegate will leverage its extensive experience and success in global markets to ensure the ABP project becomes a beloved success worldwide.”

Dan Houser, founder of Absurd Ventures, stated:

“Absurd Ventures was set up to tell new and different kinds of stories, and to create what I hope are interesting and compelling original experiences. This new game is an opportunity to go somewhere entirely different and to take players on an entirely new adventure. I am excited to be going on this journey with the amazing team that we are building here at Absurd Ventures and am grateful that we are partnering with Smilegate who really understand and support our vision.”

Kwon Hyuk-bin, Chief Visionary Officer of Smilegate, added:

“Dan Houser and I have formed a deep friendship through our shared interest in games and the future, and I find it especially meaningful that we are now able to share our creative visions through this collaboration on the A Better Paradise project,” he stated. “We’re excited to present a title that reflects the vision we’ve often discussed—one that we hope will deeply resonate with gamers around the world.

Through this joint project, Smilegate aims to grow beyond Asia and become a major player in the global gaming industry.

Absurd Ventures was advised by Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, P.C. and Fenwick & West LLP in connection with the transaction. Smilegate was advised by DLA Piper.


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PIONER: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure That Feels Like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Meets Fallout


During the recent Future Games Show Spring Showcase, GFA Games unveiled an exciting new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated MMO shooter, PIONER. Set on the mysterious Soviet-era island of Tartarus, this post-apocalyptic game has drawn comparisons to iconic titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout, and for good reason.

A Dark and Immersive World

PIONER's gameplay trailer showcased its atmospheric environments, blending eerie Soviet-era aesthetics with a haunting post-apocalyptic setting. The game's open world spans over 50 square kilometers, offering players a vast and dynamic landscape to explore. The attention to detail in the environments, combined with the game's dark tone, evokes the immersive world-building seen in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Intense Combat and Survival Mechanics

The game features a mix of PvE and PvP combat, with high-risk zones like the "Shadowlands" pushing players to their limits. Realism takes center stage, as traditional health bars and levels are replaced with immersive mechanics that demand strategic thinking. This focus on survival and resource management is reminiscent of Fallout's gameplay, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death.

Player-Driven Storytelling

PIONER also emphasizes player-driven storytelling, with faction missions, hidden dungeons, and dynamic events shaping the narrative. This approach allows players to carve their own path in the game's anomaly-ridden world, much like the freedom offered in Fallout's branching storylines.

While PIONER draws inspiration from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout, it carves out its own identity with its Soviet-era setting and innovative gameplay mechanics. The game's developers, GFA Games, have promised a challenging and immersive experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.

PIONER is set to launch on PC later in 2025, with console releases planned for a future date. Fans of post-apocalyptic adventures can wishlist the game on Steam to stay updated on its progress.



 + Blu 

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FTS: "TANUKI: Pon's Summer" Reveals ID@Xbox Showcase Trailer, Launching Late 2025

 

CRITICAL REFLEX & DENKIWORKS REVEAL NEW TRAILER FOR TANUKI: PON’S SUMMER AT ID@XBOX SHOWCASE

Shred your way through a quaint Japanese village and restore the Great Tanuki Shrine in late 2025

KYOTO, Japan – Feb. 24, 2025 – Looks like Pon’s got a really big job lined up! CRITICAL REFLEX and indie developer Denkiworks are back at it again with a new gameplay trailer for TANUKI: Pon’s Summer, revealed during the ID@Xbox Showcase at IGN Fan Fest. Grab your cap, hop on your bike, deliver packages and make friends along the way as you restore the Great Tanuki Shrine later this year on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Game Pass and Nintendo Switch! 

In TANUKI: Pon’s Summer, you’ll ride your way around a picturesque Japanese town as a part-time mailman and full-time, furry-pawed BMX-pert. Pull off sick tricks, deliver packages and help locals with quests, all in pursuit of fixing the Great Tanuki Shrine before the end-of-summer Matsuri festival!


It’s summer, so don’t forget to make time for awesome activities like baseball, sumo, taiko drums and more! Experience village life and create your own unique story as you befriend (or annoy) a cast of quirky townsfolk and manage your relationships with an intuitive, emoji-based dialogue system!

Key Features

  • Ride your bike freely while doing sick BMX tricks, grinds, flips and stunts
  • Deliver packages and complete odd jobs around the village as a part-time mailman
  • Enjoy summer activities like bug catching, karaoke, fishing, baseball and more
  • Make friends with – or even upset – the quirky townsfolk with a fun emoji-based dialogue system
  • Unlock different decorations to restore the Great Tanuki Shrine
  • Explore a lovingly crafted world inspired by the developers’ lived experiences in Kyoto, Aomori, Sapporo and Beppu. Hot summer days in Japan await!

TANUKI: Pon’s Summer is available to wishlist now on Steam.


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