Raphaël Colantonio and his team at Wolfeye Studios have kept their second game under wraps, sharing only a few teaser images and a brief glimpse of gameplay on social media. This game remains a mystery, but we do know some key details. It's a first-person action-RPG set in a retro sci-fi setting, staying true to Colantonio's background as creative director at Dishonored and Prey developer Arkane Studio. The team includes former Arkane devs like Christophe Carrier and Joackim Daviaud.

Why Weird West First?

After leaving Arkane, Colantonio wasn't sure what to do next. He wanted to do something smaller and bootstrap the new company. Weird West was that project, a top-down action RPG that was a step away from their comfort zone. It was the first time they had revenue share and kept the IP with less money and a smaller team. It was a grounding experience that helped them recalibrate.

Gameplay and Genre Shift

The only gameplay glimpse we've seen shows a first-person perspective with guns at the center of combat. While Dishonored focused on stealth and Weird West had a mix of action and exploration, this new title seems to play more like a shooter. Colantonio emphasizes that it has RPG elements and moving to shooter-style combat opens up new playstyle possibilities. He points to Bethesda's Fallout games as an example of blending genres.

Immersive Sim Genre Challenges

The immersive sim genre has struggled historically, with franchises like Dishonored, Deus Ex, and Thief facing commercial challenges. Colantonio believes their complexity can be a barrier but also sees Baldur's Gate 3 as a step forward. Games like Skyrim and Fallout have shown that there is a way to make immersive sim-like games successful by giving players multiple solutions and choices.

Unique Approach and Communication

Communicating the nature of this new game is a challenge. Colantonio faced similar issues with Dishonored. Players and media want to label it based on other games, but it's truly something different. He hopes players will discover its uniqueness when they play it. The team is passionate about these types of games and is constantly learning through testing to make them successful.