The British video game developer, Splash Damage, has just revealed that they are working together with popular streamers, shroud and Sacriel, to create a AAA open-world survival game.
Splash Damage has been operating since 2001, defining the studio’s identity by specializing in multiplayer first-person shooter video games. Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars are among their prominent titles, but they have also collaborated with Bethesda Softworks on developing Brink, as well as with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in creating the multiplayer mode for Batman Arkham Origins. At the 2022 Game Awards, it was revealed that Splash Damage’s next game will be Transformers: Reactivate, a multiplayer online action game based on the franchise of the same name.
In a new video, Splash Damage debuted a huge surprise, taking Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek, and Christopher ‘Sacriel’ Ball, in the game development industry as they unveiled Project Astrid. Splash Damage stated that partnering with shroud and Sacriel will add a new perspective to the development process, sharing their expertise as players, streamers, subject matter experts, and community builders and leaders.
Mike ‘shroud’ Grzesiek started out his career in the competitive first-person shooter scene, playing for Cloud9 in CS:GO Majors then transitioned to a full-time content creator and streamer on Twitch. After years of being absent from the esports scene, shroud made his comeback, playing as part of the Sentinels roster in Valorant Championship Tours last year.
Shroud has already partnered with major brands, specifically in creating a mouse with Logitech, but it still came as a tremendous surprise that he is now working on creating a AAA open-world survival game. Shroud’s remark on the development of Project Astrid is as follows:
“This project means everything to me. Chris and I have refined a vision for what’s next in the survival genre and with Splash Damage we’re setting out to build it. We want to build the best survival game ever, and with Sacriel’s brain and Splash Damage’s team, I know we can do it.”
Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek
As with shroud, gaming is a major part of Chris ‘Sacriel’ Ball‘s career. Beginning as a Youtuber, to a partnered livestreamer on Twitch, and now Chris has ventured into the game development industry. Chris’ statement on the creation of Project Astrid is as follows:
“This is a dream come true. Mike and I have been envisioning a world where we help build the game that streamers and gamers love playing. To be able to execute with a team as esteemed and experienced as Splash Damage is a privilege. In our work together to date, it is clear to us that we are truly part of the team and that we are well positioned to help bring this dream to reality.”
Chris ‘Sacriel’ Ball
It is always interesting to hear about a new original IP being developed. In the case of Project Astrid, it is even more exciting to know that shroud and Sacriel had been involved in its development. Splash Damage is already hard at work on Transformers: Reactivate, so it can only be hoped that they will not compromise on any of their current projects.
Project Astrid is still in pre-production, so it may take a long while before further details about the game would be disclosed.