Diablo vets form Hyboreal Games

Former Blizzard employees blow into new Northern California studio; team already at work on new game franchise.

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The growing community of independent game development studios just increased its population by one. Hyboreal Games formally announced its existence today and has set up shop in Northern California. The studio was founded by former employees of Blizzard North, where the PC game Diablo was created.

Game vets Michio Okamura, Eric Sexton, and Steven Woo, all of whom worked on the popular Diablo franchise, lead the studio's creative team.

Hyboreal already has a game in development, and though today's official release doesn't mention any genre, name, or platform, it does hint that the company has plenty of confidence in it.

"The company is establishing a new best-selling game franchise by applying the proven formula of mass accessibility, addictive game play and longevity through re-playability," reads the statement.

The franchise is likely Starfall, a game briefly mentioned on the company's Web site. There's little to go on besides a picture of a very busty heroine in futuristic gear, but with the company saying it is "focusing on making games for the PC" and repeated reminders that its experience lies with Diablo, an action role-playing game for the PC is likely. There is no timetable for the game's release.

25 Comments

  • MetallicBrain

    Posted Mar 9, 2007 12:32 pm PT

    It's time to make a new diablo, like WoW.... World of Diablo!

  • Digital_DJ_00

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:03 pm PT

    Jesus christ, Blizzard need's to stop humping Warcraft and make another Diablo for hell sake, I'm sick of waiting already.

  • crazy_boy166

    Posted Dec 12, 2005 5:32 pm PT

    Sweeth i just cant wait for another one, the first and second was great online and even at single player.GO BLIZZARD GO!!!!!

  • Terminator14

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 7:49 am PT

    I'm sure in the future we can expect some great RPG's from these guys, man I can't wait, maybe a new Starcraft game is in the works, a massive online RPG, or maybe just an RPG?

  • farnes

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 6:19 pm PT

    looking forward for it.....let's see what comes out of them....

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 3:08 pm PT

    Good stuff, go independent developers with great talent.

  • DeuxHero

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 12:41 pm PT

    except when WoW dies and has no uuser base >_>

  • griftgfx

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 12:01 pm PT

    It's totally not fair to compare guildwars to WOW--and Blizzard would be smart not to try to make Diablo 3 something comparable to WOW either.

    There's pretty much zero chance that Bliz can come out with D3 without distracting their WoW userbase..but that's why the game has to do things significantly differently as to not really disturb the masses..but rather get those people playing games like GW into Diablo again.

    Lets face it--GW has a hell of a lot more in common with D2 than it does WoW--and I expect as much of D3--a instanced world--at the very least.

    This new studio comming out with something simular can only mean one thing though--less time on my hands.

  • dwmorrow

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 9:38 am PT

    Looks like some kinda blend between Motoko Kusanagi (of Ghost in the Shell fame), Aeon Flux and the heroine from ONI to me. Still, scantily-clad busty chicks with guns are OK by me.

  • lilweightlifter

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 6:35 am PT

    Cool beans!

  • dmak

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 5:55 am PT

    well hopefully it is more successful that guildwars was compared to its rival WOW...

  • DeuxHero

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 2:26 am PT

    Nice way to rig a bet dude

    it can't be diablo 3 blizzard has the licensed

    as we say over on gamefaqs "fusion mailed"

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 1:13 am PT

    I'll shave my head and glue it to my face if it's Diablo 3.

  • ewjim

    Posted Nov 29, 2005 12:00 am PT

    Sounds promising, lets wait and see...

  • AdrianWerner

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 10:19 pm PT

    Yeah! New PC developer !
    THis is taken feom their webpage

    The target market for Hyboreal Games is the PC market. It's a proven market with past success that this team has years of expertise working in. Tailoring the game to hit low-end systems (the fastest growing PC market share) and laptop computers, allows for more sales in a larger well-established market. Surprisingly, this also brings less competition in an open market ripe with opportunity.

    looks like they will follow Blizzard's route

  • TheGrimReaper

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 9:52 pm PT

    This actually sounds good...

  • sacredBed

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 8:43 pm PT

    they should make it like esthar from ff 8 futureistic like. futurey but not to futurey. diablo on the ds would be awsome with wifi and stuff. +it would cut down on the hackers! touch screen and stuff.... newaysi wonder if it will still have runes or will they rplace them with some futuristic gem thing?

  • niko44

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 8:05 pm PT

    Ahhh....PC?!Come on guys make a diablo like game for the DS or PSP with wi-fi!

  • DeuxHero

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 6:56 pm PT

    mass accessibility=low system requirements
    at least in my mind (and the fact one of the resons diablo II is still played is you don't need a super computer to do so)

  • pcjunkie86

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 6:44 pm PT

    Sweet, glad to hear another presige PC game company is entering the maket. With former Bliz employees, no less!

  • Puppy0

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 6:18 pm PT

    Is that chick kicking somebody in the face or am I blind. Blizzard North has been absent too long, now let's just round up the wing commander people and Origin Systems... or are they all dead now?

  • CyphenX

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 5:56 pm PT

    So... We're getting Diablo II... in the future... with boobs...? SWEET!!!

  • CyphenX

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 5:55 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • RpgReaver

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 5:43 pm PT

    Sweet! This and HellGate: London.

  • Sabooya

    Posted Nov 28, 2005 5:39 pm PT

    Yahhy another WOW!!!!
    Well im lookin forward to what evr this is. Maybe it will be another perfect dark type game. A fps based on a chick? A bunch of them have been in the works wouldnt be surprised if it was...

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