Former BioShock designer Steve Gaynor and two other 2K veterans have formed a new independent developer called The Fullbright Company in Portland, Oregon.
The group's first project is a first-person game with atmospheric elements and a heavy emphasis on exploration, similar to the BioShock titles. Unlike that series, though, this will be a "nonviolent game in an unfantastical locale" for PC.
Gaynor previously worked on the level designs of BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite at 2K Marin and Irrational Games. He's joined by former 2K Marin programmer Johnnemann Nordhagen and ex-2K Games editor/researcher Karla Zimonja.
The trio previously worked together on Minerva's Den, a downloadable campaign for BioShock 2. "In our time apart after that project, we missed it," the team explains on its website. "We missed working on a small team, on a small project, focused on telling a personal story in a player-driven way. We wanted to do that again."
"So we bailed out of corporate game development and reformed as an indie team, to see what we can do on our own," the group continues.
Good for him! Steve and the others seem to have ideas much bigger and broader than what one can reasonably express in a game primarily about shooting scary people in the face.
Excited to see what comes next for The Fullbright Company!