Neill Blomkamp, the critically acclaimed director of hit movies like District 9, Chappie, and Elysium, is turning his attention and talent to the world of video games.
According to a new report from IGN, Blomkamp has joined new indie studio Gunzilla Games (not to be confused with Horizon Zero Dawn studio Guerrilla Games) as Chief Visionary Officer. Their first project will be an as-yet unrevealed multiplayer shooter for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.
What do you mean you've never seen District 9? At least watch the trailer for me now, would you?
Gunzilla was established last year, and includes developers who previously worked at Crytek, Ubisoft, EA, and other iconic companies. Blomkamp explained to IGN his new role will attempt to bridge the gap between game development and film directing. He'll work across different parts of the studio, lending his expertise and cinematic flair when and where he can.
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"It comes from a place of bringing directorial skills that would be along the lines of the films that I've done before to the aesthetic of the game," he said.
Blomkamp admits that while he's certainly played games in the past, he's not exactly familiar with game development. That's why he'll work closely with other senior creatives throughout development.
"The difference [from directing a film] is not acting like a single point that guides the creative team," he explained. "It's making sure that you're integrated into the team in a real way," he tells me. "I can come in with a very definitive point of view, but it has to work on two levels. It has to be accepted by the greater team as the right creative direction to go in. And it also has to be, first and foremost, something that can integrate into the architecture of gameplay in a way that's beneficial to the game."
Details on Gunzilla's debut game are thin on the ground right now. We know that it's a multiplayer shooter that will incorporate narrative elements, but it remains a mystery beyond that. Here's hoping he can do for AAA shooters what he's done for sci-fi movies, though. Watch this space.
Featured Image Credit: TriStar PicturesTopics: Xbox, GAMING, News, PlayStation