The co-writer of the canceled Star Wars: Project Ragtag has announced that he has reunited with director Amy Hennig, formerly known for Uncharted, to work on a very ambitious AAA adventure game. Todd Stashwick revealed on Twitter that he has joined Hennig’s new studio, which has a strong pedigree.
The new development team, Skydance New Media, also includes “a core team of industry vets.” The tweet also includes a job offer for an animation director and a programmer, with previous experience in both roles (hence the “senior” role).
Stashwick’s tweet alludes to the title as “a high quality, AAA single-player story-driven action-adventure game,” and this new project that brought together veterans from Uncharted and Star Wars will leverage the Unreal Engine as a graphics engine. Previously, Stashwick and Hennig teamed up for Project Ragtag, before EA canceled everything.
Hennig, who previously directed the first three chapters of Uncharted (as well as the pearl for PS1, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver) announced as early as 2019 the founding of a new development team. Skydance takes its name from the homonymous former Hollywood production house, made up of its exiles.
The use of Star Wars by Electronic Arts has produced results without infamy or praise, and in the eyes of many, the various cancellations have relegated the management of the IP to mediocrity. The ambitious Orca, a veteran of the cancellation of Project Ragtag, also closed its doors in 2018. Last year the Battlefront spinoff “Viking” was also canceled.
The exclusivity agreement between the publisher and Lucasfilm will expire in 2023. Ubisoft recently announced that it is working on an open-world title set in the Star Wars galaxy, and Lucasfilm has confirmed that it wants to open the door to further development teams for other adaptations.
I’m working with @amy_hennig and a core team of industry vets on an exciting action/adventure game. Seeking folks that want to push-state-of the art animation tech: https://t.co/GnqmA1YyeF. Also If u have extensive Unreal Engine experience see more here: https://t.co/3OjTQZ2lFF. pic.twitter.com/wQJ8Jjwphf
— Todd Vaxwick (@ToddStashwick) May 17, 2021