David Vonderhaar, a former Call of Duty lead and an award-winning and experienced gaming industry veteran, has announced a brand-new game development studio, BulletFarm. He and his new team are gearing up for a new AAA co-op FPS project.
The decision to step out of his comfort zone and create something entirely new marks a departure for Vonderhaar, who spent over 15 years contributing to the iconic CoD franchise.
A Former Call of Duty Lead Is Developing the Next Big AAA Shooter
In a recent statement, Vonderhaar expressed his excitement about the opportunity to delve into uncharted territory.
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.
BulletFarm’s inaugural project promises to blend fresh talent and innovative ideas, capturing Vonderhaar’s passion for rich characters, precise mechanics, more intimate storytelling, and, of course, plenty of action.
NetEase Games, the Chinese tech company known for games like Naraka Bladepoint and Identity V, will provide the support structure needed to bring Vonderhaar’s vision to life.
Simon Zhu, president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase Games, emphasized the company’s commitment:
NetEase Games is fully dedicated to giving BulletFarm the resources and support required to build this new first-person experience.
Situated in the gaming hub of Los Angeles, the studio will utilize Unreal Engine 5 for its debut project. The game will take place in a completely original universe and offer a fresh take on first-person gameplay while emphasizing cooperative features.
While details about the upcoming title are still under wraps, one can’t help but speculate about the possibilities. With Vonderhaar’s track record of contributing to successful first-person shooter titles and NetEase Games’ proven expertise in multiplayer gaming, BulletFarm could bring about the next big co-op sensation.
Vonderhaar shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration with NetEase Games:
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.
Joining Vonderhaar are veteran game designer Chris Cowell as the creative director, Rexroad Simons as COO, and Eric Klokstad as the lead environment artist. Cowell was formerly part of Treyarch and worked on many CoD titles, while Klokstad is credited with games like Guild Wars and Predator: Hunting Grounds.
BulletFarm Promises Games Free From the Clutches of Battle Passes
Vonderhaar’s departure from Treyarch in August of the previous year was surprising to many, but his passion for game development was undeterred.
In a refreshing departure from industry norms, the new studio has made a bold statement regarding its approach to gaming. Asserting that gameplay should be an integral part of the game itself and not an additional purchase, it promises “standalone entertainment” free from battle passes.
What are you hoping to see in BulletFarm’s first title? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
