Playing video games is fun, but that isn’t always the case when working on them. Amid breakout hits and success stories, it’s easy to forget that the industry has been beset with massive lay-offs, project delays, shuttered studios, and unhealthy practices ranging from crunch and cultivating a frat culture to management problems, among others.
10 Chambers, the mastermind behind horror shooter GTFO and upcoming co-op heist FPS Den of Wolves, is committed to lifting the curtain on the good, bad, and everything in between about making a game. Titled Do the Game, the studio’s newly announced docu-reality series will capture “the triumphs and struggles, and relentless ambition that fuel modern game development,” including creative breakthroughs, mental health struggles, impossible deadlines, intense pressure, and the “constant battle to stay true to their vision”.
“With our previous success of GTFO and now working on a major title like Den of Wolves, it might seem glamourous. However, growing a company while building a game can be incredibly stressful and create tension even between longtime friends,” said co-founder Oscar J-T Holm. “We aim to provide a brutally honest look behind the scenes of all this.”
The mixed sentiment is captured in a 45-second trailer for the documentary, which opens with the line, “There’s a long list of people that just hate this idea.” In another scene, a developer muses, “How do I say this without getting fired?” and a montage soon follows, interspersed with footage of mo-cap and voiceover performances, Den of Wolves in action, moments where emotions are running high, and celebratory times.
According to 10 Chambers, the first season of Do the Game is expected to run for eight episodes, each coming in at around 30 minutes. The series has no release date yet, and talks are underway with major streaming platforms in Hollywood.
It remains to be seen how well the documentary will enhance the public’s understanding and perception of game development, though its recognition of the raw, ugly bits certainly makes for a much-needed reality check. After all, there’s a lot of history to be found in the studio’s origins — its father Ulf Andersson, of Payday fame, has lived through the rise and fall of Overkill Software (spanning its heyday to the subsequent acquisition of Starbreeze Studios) and is now back stronger than ever before.
As for Den of Wolves, the techno-thriller is also undated but will launch in early access when ready. While a heist shooter in name, fans can expect an intriguing blend of genres, including a dystopian sci-fi setting and a core gameplay mechanic centred around spatial manipulation.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
