Smite and Realm Royale writer Hi-Rez is opening a brand new improvement studio in Brighton – Red Beard Games.
Headed by european basic supervisor and international VP of promoting Veronique Lallier, the studio is engaged on a brand new undertaking following the profitable launch of Hi-Rez titles on Switch and the roll-out of cross-play in Smite, Paladins and Realm Royale.
“Building the development studio here enables us to fully leverage the extremely diverse and dynamic talent that exists in Europe,” mentioned Lallier.
“Our focus is on providing accessible gaming experiences for giant gaming communities, in a manner than that’s totally different to what’s been undertaken by Hi-Rez beforehand. It creates house for brand spanking new concepts however leverages the broad expertise we’ve got at Hi-Rez.
The developer and writer is pushing to place cross-platform play on the forefront of all its games with Lallier telling VG247 it’s an important function that many will now count on as customary.
“It’s a logical subsequent step that every one platforms ought to launch with cross-play in thoughts. In future the worldwide participant base will come to count on it and transferring in opposition to that market tide doesn’t make sense,” she mentioned.
“Cross-play is a feature we’ve been pushing for a long time – it is important for us to enable players to go in-game from any device they own and with the same account. We are consistently working to implement this feature as widely as possible, across all our existing live games and for our upcoming projects,” she added.
Hi-Rez claims to have served over 70 million gamers worldwide throughout a number of codecs, and at a time when games as a service are coming below extra scrutiny from gamers, the trade and potential regulators, Lallier reckons the writer understands what it takes to run these 24-hour stay games efficiently, and ethically.
“It’s pretty simple,” Lallier mentioned. “Offer a good standard of service – both in and around the game world. We invest significantly in creating innovative, engaging in-game content for our players. Ensuring that we spend equal amounts of effort considering how we support them outside the game world be that in our community, support and esports is a priority for us.”
While regulation makers look to the trade and ask in the event that they’re exploiting prospects, and receive some eye-opening explanations, Lallier mentioned it’s essential to work with regulators moderately than attempt to obscure enterprise practises.
“It’s essential that the trade is held accountable for the way in which through which it operates and we welcome the dialogue round regulation, it’s a major a part of educating authorities and regulation makers on the way in which through which we work.
“It’s solely by way of a collaborative strategy that we are able to make sure that any regulation is made in a totally knowledgeable atmosphere and in doing so betters the patron expertise.”
Red Beard Games has been introduced this week throughout Develop in Brighton, with Hi-Rez offering a day of free esports sessions to the industry today.
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