Today, NetEase announced the foundation of a new AAA remote-first (albeit with headquarters in Los Angeles) game development studio called BulletFarm, led by Call of Duty: Black Ops Designer David Vonderhaar.
Simon Zhu, president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase Games, stated:
NetEase Games is fully dedicated to giving BulletFarm the resources and support required to build this new first person experience. David’s leadership and the early collection of game development talent assembled at the studio is set to offer something truly unique for his existing fans along with a new audience.
David Vonderhaar, Studio Head at BulletFarm, added:
Starting this new studio has given me a chance to step out of my comfort zone and try my hand at making something entirely new and different. This is a departure from the games I’ve worked on, but one that showcases my passion for rich characters, precise mechanics, more intimate storytelling, and plenty of action. NetEase has provided us an incredible support structure to explore these new avenues and allow true freedom to begin building the concept and ideas for our game.
Vonderhaar left Treyarch on August 18, 2023. His new team has been making an ambitious triple-A game with Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. It will be set in an original universe emphasizing cooperative gameplay. According to the press release, the game is targeting a more intimate and relatable experience while offering a fresh take on first-person gameplay.
Vonderhaar is joined by veteran game designer Chris Cowell, who also worked as principal game designer on Call of Duty: Black Ops and will be the studio’s new creative director. Rexroad Simons is BulletFarm’s Chief Operating Officer, bringing his previous experience in corporate development at NetEase Games investing in high-quality game studios and technologies, such as blockchain and AI.
BulletFarm currently has several key roles open and is actively seeking talent to join the founding team. You can read more about the openings on the studio’s official website.
