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Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave
This article details the co-development process behind Escape the Backrooms, highlighting the collaboration between solo developer Fancy, publisher Secret Mode, and development studio Blackbird Interactive. It explores how Blackbird Interactive helped port the game to consoles, implement new features like cosmetics, and overcome production challenges, ultimately leading to significant player growth and successful console launches.
"There is no easy answer anymore, there's no kind of playbook" – Secret Mode is hedging its bets with two very different pillars
Independent UK publisher Secret Mode is experiencing significant growth by focusing on two distinct pillars: 'pure indie' titles and higher-budget games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer. The company, which recently separated from Sumo Digital and Tencent, is also exploring a 'caretaker development' model for existing titles and emphasizes the importance of discoverability in the current market.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic Interview – Player Feedback, Gameplay Pacing, Development Challenges, And More
Polyarc co-founder Danny Bulla discusses the successful transition of Moss: The Forgotten Relic from VR to PC and consoles, highlighting the preservation of the emotional connection between the player and the character Quill. The interview also touches on player reception, the challenges of adapting VR experiences to traditional displays, and the collaboration with Blackbird Interactive on development.
Morning Interviews
Blackbird Interactive discusses the challenges and rewards of external development, with a quote comparing the work to being Gandalf. The article focuses on the highs and lows experienced by the studio in this development model.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic Released
Moss: The Forgotten Relic, an action-adventure game developed by Polyarc and Blackbird Interactive, has been released on Windows via Steam. The game casts players as a mouse navigating through various environments.
"If I work on that, my kids will think I'm Gandalf" – Blackbird Interactive on the highs and lows of external development
Blackbird Interactive discusses the challenges and rewards of external development, balancing work-for-hire projects with original titles. President Rory McGuire and Director Alex Delamaire highlight the importance of team excitement, client management, and leveraging diverse skill sets to succeed in the external development space.
Can co-development save the game industry?
This article discusses co-development as a potential solution to the game industry's economic challenges, highlighting how external studios can assist both large and small developers. CEOs from Blackbird Interactive, Sweet Baby Inc, and Wolfjaw Studios share insights on the practice's role in preserving professional employment.
Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition announced
Relic Entertainment and Blackbird Interactive have announced Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition, a modernized version of the 2006 real-time strategy game. This comprehensive package includes the base game and its Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor expansions, featuring enhanced visuals, quality-of-life improvements, and a 64-bit platform upgrade. The Definitive Edition is set to release on Windows PC via Steam in Fall.
Escape the Backrooms available now on Xbox Series X|S and PS5
The co-op horror game Escape the Backrooms is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, featuring cross-platform play with PC. Priced at $12.99, the game offers over 30 levels of exploration and survival against terrifying entities. It is also available on various Xbox Game Pass tiers.
Escape the Backrooms console ports now available
Publisher Secret Mode and developers Fancy Games and Blackbird Interactive have released console versions of Escape the Backrooms for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The horror game, previously available on PC, features over 30 unique levels, co-op multiplayer for up to 4 players, and proximity voice chat.
Escape The Backrooms – One Of PC’s Biggest Horror Hits Joins Game Pass
Escape The Backrooms, a popular PC horror game, has launched on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and is available on day one for Game Pass subscribers. The game features over 30 levels inspired by the Backrooms internet phenomenon and supports up to four-player online co-op with cross-platform play.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker's Developer Is Working On A New Sci-Fi Action Game In Unreal Engine 5
Blackbird Interactive, the developer behind Hardspace: Shipbreaker, is currently working on a new, unannounced sci-fi action game. This upcoming title is being developed using Unreal Engine 5.
Secret Mode busted out of the Tencent-owned Sumo Group last year. Now what?
Secret Mode, an indie publisher owned by Sumo Group (which is in turn owned by Tencent), has successfully gained independence with the help of investment firm Emona Capital. This move came after Sumo Group announced a shift to exclusively focus on development services. Secret Mode's CEO Ed Blincoe and chief publishing officer James Schall detail the rapid acquisition process and the publisher's subsequent growth, including new hires and ambitious projects like Star Wars: Galactic Racer.
Grab this official Minecraft game for free, now on PC and Xbox Series S and X
Minecraft Legends is available for free on PC and Xbox Series X|S through Amazon Prime Gaming until June 4. This real-time action-strategy spinoff from Mojang Studios, developed with Blackbird Interactive, focuses on commanding armies and base-building rather than traditional mining and crafting. The game offers co-op and PvP modes and proved popular at launch, exceeding three million players in its first ten days.
