Quick take:
- The studio is working on its debut title, ‘Ashfall’.
- ‘Ashfall’ will be the first true Web3 AAA title for PC and console.
- The game is built on the Hedera network.
The co-creator of award-winning game Days Gone, John Garvin, and Playstation’s former head of visual arts Michael Mumbauer, have joined forces to launch Liithos, a new gaming and entertainment studio for Web3 games.
The studio is led by Mumbauer (founder & CEO of Liithos, formerly founder & CEO of That’s No Moon and Head of PlayStation’s Visual Arts), and Garvin (vice president & creative of Liithos, writer and director of Ashfall, former Bend Studio creative director of Days Gone and Syphon Filter).
Liithos announced today that it is working on its debut narrative-driven title, Ashfall. When published, it will be the first true Web 3.0 AAA title for PC, Console, built on the Hedera network. However, no publication date has been released yet.
The art studio’s vision is led by Mumbauer, who pioneered the development techniques at PlayStation Visual Arts for 13 years. He was integral to driving innovation for PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 5, and helped bring beloved gaming characters such as Nathan Drake of Uncharted and Joel and Ellie of The Last of Us and Deacon St. John of Days Gone to life.
He was also a critical development partner for Naughty Dog, and closed his chapter for Sony by helping to deliver the Last of Us Part II, the most awarded title in gaming history.
Ashfall is the brainchild of Garvin, who has written and directed some of the most popular gaming franchises for Sony for over 25 years. He created the massively successful open-world game, Days Gone and was also responsible for the most successful title in PlayStation Vita history; Uncharted: Golden Abyss.
“Michael and I have worked together creatively for almost two decades and this is our chance to create something really new and exciting. It’s like getting the band back together,” said Garvin. “Our goal is to create a truly next-gen, open-world experience that engages with new technologies to allow user-generated content. As always, our focus is on creating beloved characters, captivating stories and evolutionary gameplay and a world worth exploring, not just in games, but other media as well.”
In Ashfall, players will fight to survive a world destroyed by global warming, the ignited volcanic Ring-of-Fire, mysterious and disruptive energy fields, and warring enclaves. The game will start out as a single-player adventure but will evolve into a Multiplayer PVP & PVE cinematic transmedia experience.
The game will leverage the Hedera network where scavenging, discovery and exclusivity are the focus for a build, sell and trade experience for gamers. The story of Ashfall will begin with a digital comic written by Garvin, featuring cover art by Worldstorm and DC Comics’ Brett Booth.
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