Former Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, and Infinity Ward developers are working on the debut game for their studio, That’s No Moon. According to new findings, it will be a AAA game based on a “popular” existing IP.
Not much is known about the mystery title, and no official announcements have been made regarding its release date or the particular IP yet. However, That’s No Moon has previously promised that it’s committed to delivering narrative-driven single-player experiences.
Taylor Kurosaki and Jacob Minkoff (both formerly at Infinity Ward and Naughty Dog) are on the team. Working alongside talents from Sony Santa Monica, EA, Bungie, PlayStation, and more, the new studio consists of some of the industry’s most acclaimed creatives.
That’s No Moon’s Debut Game to Be Based on Existing IP
The discovery that That’s No Moon’s debut game will feature existing IP was made on the creative education platform Stage 32. The 4-part class How To Start Your Career And Work As A Video Game Writer hosted by Andrew M. Henderson gave this intriguing detail away.
The course description reads:
“Teaching you everything you need to know about the craft and business of writing for video games is Andrew Henderson, a working Video Game writer who is one of the writers on the new AAA-game studio game THAT’S NO MOON based on popular existing intellectual property.”
Henderson is a writer and producer who has worked in film, TV, and video games. In his bio on the education platform, the writer reveals that he “just finished a 15-month writing stint” for That’s No Moon, “helping to create an upcoming game based on a major IP.”
Read also: Naughty Dog Co-President Retires, Handing Control to The Last of Us’ Neil Druckmann
Looking at Henderson’s LinkedIn account, the writer seems to have moved on from the project in March this year, after starting work at That’s No Moon in December 2021. The studio was founded in July of that year by industry veterans hailing from Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, Infinity Ward, and other renowned studios.
Former Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Devs Founded That’s No Moon
The new independent studio hasn’t revealed much about its debut game, except that it has secured more than $100 million in funding from Smilegate, the creators of the Crossfire franchise. That’s No Moon previously claimed it would release a single-player action-adventure game “that will push the limits of both gameplay and story.”
Naughty Dog’s former Narrative Design Lead Taylor Kurosaki is serving as Creative Director for the new project. He is working alongside Naughty Dog’s former Lead Game Designer Jacob Minkoff, who previously worked on The Last of Us.
The team also includes Sony Santa Monica’s former Director of Product Development, Tina Kowalewski, and EA’s former Senior Development Director, Nick Kononelos, among others.
Given the studio’s name and its reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s legendary quote in Star Wars: A New Hope, fans have been speculating that the “major IP” may be George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. However, in July 2021, the studio confirmed that despite its name, it didn’t have a Star Wars game in development.
In an interview with Inverse, former CEO Michael Mumbauer claimed that the name was meant to “convey ideas of wonder and awe” and “evoke those moments in entertainment that ignite your imagination and deliver something truly unexpected.” It remains to be seen, what this will be and when we will hear more about it.
Are you excited about what the Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, and Sony Santa Monica veterans are working on at That’s No Moon? What IP are you hoping the new game will be based on? Let us know in the comments and on our social feeds!
Source: Stage 32
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