Highlights

  • Former id Software devs come together to form indie studio Emptyvessel, aiming to create refreshing AAA experiences.
  • The studio prioritizes small, focused teams to craft high-quality IPs, breaking away from traditional business models.
  • Emptyvessel has secured investments for its first project.

Several veteran video game developers, including those who have worked on the likes of id Software's critically acclaimed Doom reboot, have banded together to form a new independent triple-A studio called Emptyvessel (stylized as "emptyvessel.") The video game industry saw thousands of layoffs in the first two months of 2024 alone, and several studios like Ridgeline Games and Deviation Games were even shattered.

Among the senior staff members who worked at id Software while the company developed its reboot of Doom were Garrett Young and Emanuel Palalic. The former was the studio's general manager until he parted ways with id Software in 2018, while the latter acted as the company's senior character artist for years before leaving in 2020. The two have since reunited to lead a new indie game studio that has managed to attract other experienced talents in the space.

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On March 12, the Texas-based Emptyvessel unveiled itself to the public, with Young and Palalic being revealed as its COO and CEO, respectively. Some of the other team members included CTO Wei Ning, an ex-software developer for visual effects company Weta Digital; animation director Ricardo Flores, formerly of BioWare and Naughty Dog; as well as art director Alex Palma, an id Software alum like Young and Palalic who worked on the upcoming Killing Floor 3 that could release in 2024.

Emptyvessel described itself as a developer-founded, developer-first independent studio that wants to create triple-A quality experiences that are new and refreshing. The Austin company also aims to break away from traditional business models, as well as empower its staff members to create high quality IPs with a more attainable scope. There have been many massively successful indie games in recent times, including the beloved co-op horror game Lethal Company that was created by solo developer Zeekerss.

2024 New Triple-A Indie Studio Emptyvessel

"By prioritizing and aligning with our strengths, we’re confident it’s possible to create [triple-A] games with smaller, focused teams. The industry has often overlooked the people who pour their hearts and souls into crafting these worlds," Young, who is also Emptyvessel's general manager, was quoted as saying. The company will be able to test its developer-oriented philosophy with its first project, an in-development unannounced experience that is inspired by film, graphic novels, and games set in dystopian sci-fi worlds.

By prioritizing and aligning with our strengths, we’re confident it’s possible to create AAA-quality games with smaller, focused teams. The industry has often overlooked the people who pour their hearts and souls into crafting these worlds.

Emptyvessel has raised capital through an initial seed funding round led by Sisu Game Ventures, and the studio also secured additional investments from private firms and individuals like Raptor Group, Tripwire Interactive co-owner William Munk, and former Treyarch co-studio head Dan Bunting, among many others. More details regarding Emptyvessel's unannounced first project, which is one of the many games that are powered by Unreal Engine 5, will be made available soon, according to the company.