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Blind Squirrel Games, a full-service game development studio headquartered in Irvine, California, has officially acquired Distributed Development, a service-focused studio located in Colombia. The new entity will be rebranded as Blind Squirrel Games Colombia.
Known for its work on acclaimed titles such as Bioshock: The Collection and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Blind Squirrel is currently developing an original game named Cosmorons. The addition of a studio in Colombia marks a significant expansion of the company’s global presence. With existing teams in California, Texas, and New Zealand, this move aims to enhance Blind Squirrel’s capacity to deliver top-notch AAA development services at competitive costs.
In a statement, Blind Squirrel Games CEO Brad Hendricks highlighted the acquisition as a pivotal achievement in celebrating the studio’s 15th anniversary. He stated that this expansion fosters a network of development excellence that boosts both creative and technical capabilities, enhancing the value offered to partners. The collaboration among Blind Squirrel’s studios is expected to yield greater efficiency and innovative solutions across various projects.
Blind Squirrel Games Colombia, formerly Distributed Development—recognized for its strong software development acumen with notable clients like Microsoft—will continue to operate under the leadership of Eric Herrera, who has transitioned into the role of studio director.
Hendricks remarked on the company’s aspirations to set a high standard in video game development and highlighted its pioneering role in co-development, bridging the gap between developers and the AAA sector. The studio is now focused on both co-development projects and creating original intellectual properties (IPs).
He expressed satisfaction with the relationship formed with Herrera’s Colombian team while collaborating on a project for Playside. After a successful partnership, the decision to acquire Distributed Development emerged naturally, given the exceptional talent the team demonstrated.
Based in the vibrant video game development locale of Manizales, Colombia, Blind Squirrel Games Colombia plans to expand its workforce significantly by 2025, aiming to employ between 25 to 30 individuals in a newly established office. The location is ideal for attracting young talent, particularly recent university graduates, in an industry that is still gaining traction locally.
In contrast, the parent company in the U.S. is navigating its 15th year as a specialized studio focused on high-quality game production. It intends to scale its workforce from 98 to approximately 140 employees in the near future.
Eric Herrera echoed the collaborative spirit of the relationship, noting that working with Blind Squirrel Games was a highly positive experience, facilitating seamless cooperation between teams. As they merge operations, both studios are looking forward to nurturing talent in the region and expanding their joint initiatives.
The synergy between the teams was particularly strong, according to Herrera, who praised Blind Squirrel’s leadership for their emphasis on the well-being of every individual, which greatly benefited their collaborative efforts.
Under Herrera’s leadership, the talented team at Blind Squirrel Games Colombia has developed advanced engineering technology, including an AI tool based on Unreal Engine that is enhancing global project efficiencies.
The acquisition, the financial details of which have not been disclosed, suggests promising potential, particularly as Blind Squirrel gears up for new projects, including a major title titled State of Decay 3, set for release under Microsoft.
Despite the competitive landscape with major players like Keywords and Virtuos dominating external development, Hendricks is optimistic that Blind Squirrel can carve out a distinct niche thanks to its strong emphasis on design, production management, and engineering capabilities.
Feedback on Cosmorons has been largely positive, with a significant portion of the community responding favorably. The development team aims to build a dedicated audience over the coming months through early access on Steam, focusing on player feedback to enhance game features leading up to a full launch next year.
Additionally, Hendricks noted that while labor costs in Colombia are significantly lower than in markets like California, the decision to acquire Distributed Development was driven by the exceptional talent available there, rather than mere cost considerations.
With a decade of experience, Herrera’s team at Distributed Development has previously collaborated on titles like Age of Darkness: Final Stand and other projects for clients like Nickelodeon. Herrera is committed to retaining local talent within the gaming industry by offering compelling career opportunities in the region.
“We have confidence in Eric’s ability to attract and maintain talent in gaming,” Hendricks concluded.
Source
venturebeat.com