ProbablyMonsters, a game studio collective based in Bellevue, Wash., has recently announced the formation of a new internal development team called Hidden Grove. The team is led by general manager Chris Opdahl, along with design directors Raylene Deck and Grant Mackay. All three of them were former developers on Bungie’s MMO shooter Destiny 2 and joined ProbablyMonsters in 2020. The debut project for Hidden Grove is an original multiplayer competitive adventure game built in Unreal Engine 5, which has been in incubation and is now being announced to the public.
In addition to Opdahl, Deck, and Mackay, Hidden Grove also includes executive producer Lori Ada Kilty, art director Jedd Chevrier, senior engineering director Dean Johnson, and narrative director Kate Welch. Kilty was previously a program manager at Xbox Game Studios, Chevrier is a freelance illustrator and ex-creative lead at Microsoft Hololens, Johnson a former engineering manager at Microsoft and 343 Industries, and Welch a former lead designer at Wizards of the Coast. The team is assembled with a wealth of experience in the gaming industry and is gearing up to work on their upcoming project.
Founded in 2016 by former Bungie CEO Harold Ryan, ProbablyMonsters is focused on creating a family of sustainable game studios through a people-first culture. Ryan’s vision for the company is to manage the business aspects for its studios while allowing them the opportunity to grow and potentially become independent. ProbablyMonsters recently underwent a round of layoffs, but continues to move forward with new projects and hires. Adam Rymer has been appointed as the new chief product officer, joining the team from his previous roles at e-sports firm OpTic Gaming and Nerdist Industries.
Hidden Grove is the latest team within ProbablyMonsters to be announced, joining Battle Barge and Cauldron. Battle Barge is working on a next-gen cooperative RPG, while Cauldron recently halted development on its debut project. Firewalk Studios, another team under ProbablyMonsters, was acquired by Sony last year. Firewalk’s debut game, Concord, has been revealed as a PlayStation exclusive. These moves indicate the growth and evolution of ProbablyMonsters and its commitment to developing innovative and exciting games for the gaming community.
ProbablyMonsters’ newest team, Hidden Grove, is a testament to the company’s dedication to fostering talent and creating engaging gaming experiences. With a strong leadership team and a diverse group of developers, Hidden Grove is poised to make waves in the gaming industry with their original multiplayer adventure game. The company’s focus on a people-first culture and sustainable growth sets them apart in the competitive gaming market, and with the addition of Adam Rymer as chief product officer, ProbablyMonsters is setting the stage for continued success and expansion. It will be exciting to see what Hidden Grove and other teams within ProbablyMonsters bring to the table in the near future.
