Amy Hennig, the creative force behind Uncharted 1, 2, and 3, as well as Jak 3, Battlefield: Hardline, and the unreleased Visceral Star Wars game, is embarking on a new venture by launching her own games studio. Hennig has partnered with Skydance Media, the production house responsible for films like Mission Impossible Fallout, Gemini Man, Annihilation, and Terminator: Dark Fate. She will spearhead Skydance's new game development division, collaborating with her former Electronic Arts colleague Julian Beak. This development was first reported by VentureBeat, and Skydance later confirmed the news in a press release.
In an interview with VentureBeat, Skydance CEO David Ellison explained the decision to hire Hennig and Beak, stating, "The interactive media landscape is constantly evolving, and Amy and Julian are the creative visionaries leading this transformation." Hennig, whose career began with 1989's ElectroCop, shared her vision for the new studio, aiming to create games that appeal to both traditional gamers and newcomers, focusing on "story-driven experiences" for both conventional and streaming platforms. After leaving EA following the closure of Visceral Games and the cancellation of her Star Wars project, Hennig found a supportive environment at Skydance, where she encountered "like-minded individuals" who valued her work.
While the studio's initial project remains undecided, Hennig will assume the role of "interactive showrunner," with Beak serving as executive producer. Her goal is to function as a "storyteller" through her games, maintaining a "small and focused" studio that prioritizes quality over quantity. Skydance Media already has a foothold in the gaming industry, having worked on titles like The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and their previous VR game Archangel. However, the company faced controversy earlier this year when they hired former Disney/Pixar animation chief John Lasseter, who departed under allegations of sexual misconduct. Lasseter's appointment led to actress Emma Thompson withdrawing from a Skydance-produced film.
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