New 'Rebel Wolves' Studio Aims to Change RPGs
Several veteran AAA developers have banded together to form a new studio, Rebel Wolves. Most notable of the pack is Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, CEO and Game Director of Rebel Wolves. He worked as Game Director for The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt and was Head Production/Secondary Game director on Cyberpunk 2077.
Rebel Wolves has two priorities: "revolutionizing" RPGs and creating an industry-defining/defying work culture. The latter move comes with some interest-- those familiar with CD Projekt Red's recent history may know that Tomasziewicz resigned from CD Projekt Red in May 2021 after allegations of workplace bullying. While an investigation cleared him of guilt, it's clear that rampant crunch culture and other company-wide allegations of mistreatment have affected Tomasziewicz. The name Rebel Wolves represents the commitment to focusing on developers first and foremost and being part of a pack that protects its own. The official Rebel Wolves website sums up its sentiments best:
"Our priority is the team, and the team’s priority is to create the best RPG games the world has seen."
For how they're looking to transform RPGs and game development overall, they've stated they will commit to the following:
- Staying "small and agile" as a studio. Narrative Director Jakub Szamalek has followed this with a similar sentiment, stating: "In order to create truly great games, we won’t chase trends or numbers."
- (In reference to their team.) "We make key decisions together. We share profits between the team." Does this mean Rebel Wolves will put their money where their mouth is and pay their workers equitably? We'll see.
Most of the other statements on the site at the moment are focused on missions and fluff, so we'll see how their actions follow their words as their under-wraps project continues production.
Rebel Wolves is currently developing "a AAA, story-driven RPG saga". While details are being kept close to the vest, they've released a teaser image that hints at a dark fantasy story.
