Back in May 2024, Activision introduced Elsewhere Entertainment, a brand-new studio in Warsaw, Poland. This team is packed with industry veterans who have worked on legendary games like The Last of Us, The Witcher, and Destiny. Their goal was to create an unforgettable, story-driven AAA franchise.
Lately, whispers in the gaming world suggest that Elsewhere Entertainment is working on an open-world game that blends deep storytelling with multiplayer action.
If that’s true, it could be something really special. Let’s break it down and see what we know so far.
Formation of Elsewhere Entertainment
Elsewhere Entertainment is made up of top-tier game developers who’ve worked on hits like:
- The Last of Us
- Uncharted
- The Witcher
- Cyberpunk
- Destiny
- The Division
- Far Cry.
With so much experience, the team is focused on creating amazing, story-driven games that pull players in.
Thanks to Activision’s support, the studio has access to cutting-edge tools to build the next big thing in gaming. The goal isn’t just to make a great game—it’s to create a franchise that leaves a lasting impact and stays with players for years to come.
Recent Developments and Leaks of Elsewhere Entertainment
New details about Elsewhere Entertainment’s unannounced project have emerged through employee profiles and social media activity. Łukasz Nizik, a Senior Expert Network Programmer who joined Activision in January 2024, lists his involvement in the development of a new intellectual property (IP) at Elsewhere Entertainment.
This information was highlighted by industry commentator Alan Feely on Twitter, drawing attention to Nizik’s contributions and the project’s scope.
Łukasz Nizik’s LinkedIn profile describes the project as an open-world game featuring narrative-driven elements, multiplayer functionality, and a newly developed game engine.
This info means the studio is going all in on creating a massive world with deep storytelling and online play. Developing their own engine shows they want full control over how the game runs, making sure it fits their vision perfectly.
Everything so far points to a bold new project that aligns with Elsewhere Entertainment’s goal of delivering a “new narrative-based and genre-defining AAA franchise.”
Analysis of the Project’s Scope
Elsewhere Entertainment is going all-in on their new game by building their own game engine instead of using something like Unreal Engine.
Big-name engines are powerful, but they don’t always fit every project’s needs. Studios like Warhorse and Pearl Abyss have run into issues with Unreal when making open-world games, so they chose to develop their own tech.
Elsewhere is doing the same, making sure their game runs exactly how they want. This approach helps them fine-tune performance, add unique features, and avoid the limits of pre-made engines.
Industry Context
Game studios frequently develop proprietary engines to better suit the unique needs of their projects, particularly for large-scale open-world games.
Pearl Abyss, for instance, designed the BlackSpace Engine specifically for Crimson Desert, allowing for advanced environmental interactions and dynamic weather effects that might be challenging to achieve with commercial engines like Unreal Engine.
Similarly, Warhorse Studios customized CryEngine extensively for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II to create a historically authentic medieval world. They believe Unreal Engine would not have provided the same level of realism.
These choices highlight a growing preference for custom-built engines when standard solutions fall short.
Speculations on Release Timeline
Elsewhere Entertainment just got started in May 2024 and is already working on a big new game. It’s an open-world, multiplayer story-driven experience built on their own custom engine. A project like this takes time, so don’t expect it to launch anytime soon. With how complex and ambitious it is, it’ll probably take a few years to finish. A release before 2027 seems unlikely, which lines up with when the next-gen consoles are expected to arrive.
