T-Minus Zero Entertainment, a former NetEase studio shuttered in September, has been saved and acquired by a “small group of veteran directors and founders.”
NetEase launched the first iteration of T-Minus Zero Entertainment in August 2023, revealing that, alongside BioWare Austin co-founder Rich Vogel, the team would include a host of seasoned developers from BioWare and Bethesda, including Mark Tucker, Jeff Dobson, and Scott Malone.
NetEase shut down Austin-based studio T-Minus Zero Entertainment back in September. Studio head and co-founder, Rich Vogel, confirmed the closure just days after Vogel announced the studio’s partnership with NetEase was “coming to an end.”
Now, however, the team said it was “officially returning – reimagined, refocused, and ready to build the next great player-driven experience.”
“A small group of veteran directors and founders have acquired the T-Minus Zero Entertainment name to carry the team’s spirit forward and are relaunching as an independent production company – with a refined development model and a funding approach inspired by the independent film world: focused, project-based, and partnership-friendly,” the team said in a statement.
“Earlier this year, our journey with NetEase Games came to a close. Together, we accomplished something rare: a world-class team, a bold new IP, and a fully playable prototype that demonstrated both our creative and executional strength. The response from players, partners, and peers validated our belief that what we were building had genuine market potential. While shifting market conditions terminated that trajectory, they also clarified our path forward.”
Zachary Beaudoin has assumed the role of CEO, Mark Tucker will serve as CCO, and Scott Stevens and Jef Dobson will serve as CTO and chief art officer (CAO), respectively. The studio is now seeking co-financing partners for its next round of development financing with the goal to bring its concept to “full production with the right strategic allies – those who value quality gameplay-first experiences, executional excellence, and a sustainable business model.”
