Dontnod, the folks behind the good Life Is Strange games and last year’s great mountain-climbing game Jusant, is going through an internal change.

The company just unveiled its new organizational structure to reinforce its core expertise among 3 key genres. They are:

• RPG
• Narrative Adventure
• Action Adventure

In addition, the company is currently busy with 7 games in its pipeline. 5 of them are being developed in-house, with one of them being Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The other two are being made externally: Koira by Belgian studio Studio Tolima and an unannounced title with Tiny Bull Studios.

While this is just the company’s longer way of saying “we’re focusing on what works for us” and is just the obligatory press release for gaming news outlets like us to pick up for funsies, it’s good to know that Dontnod is still sticking around and is hard at work. Full press release below.

ARIS – March 27, 2024 – DON’T NOD, the renowned developer and publisher of immersive video games, is proud to announce a transformative step forward in its organizational structure, reflecting its unwavering commitment to innovation and creativity in storytelling and gameplay.

At the heart of this evolution lies the experience gained over 15 years of development and the creation of 10 games, which naturally led to the establishment of three distinct internal branches of expertise, formed around the studio’s strengths:

• RPG
• Narrative Adventure
• Action Adventure

A move that highlights DON’T NOD’s vision within an ever-evolving industry and aligns with its ambitions for 2025 and beyond.

Building on a Legacy

The establishment of the RPG, Narrative Adventure, and Action Adventure branches reflects DON’T NOD’s rich history of diverse gaming experiences. From the action-packed world of Remember Me to narrative gems like Life is Strange and Tell Me Why, to Vampyr and the recently released Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, each branch draws inspiration from the studio’s past successes. DON’T NOD’s varied portfolio showcases its ability to create immersive worlds filled with complex characters and meaningful choices, and with these branches, the studio continues to build upon its legacy and reinforce its core expertise in the genres that have defined its success for the past 15 years.

This new organizational structure not only emphasizes DON’T NOD’s dual role as a publisher and developer but also positions the studio to maintain creative control while navigating the dynamic landscape of game publishing. It will provide DON’T NOD the agility to better compete in a rapidly evolving industry by responding efficiently to market trends and player preference, and to ultimately continue to deliver high-quality and innovative games that players will enjoy.

“Sustainability, innovation and creativity are the pillars of DON’T NOD’s strategy,” says Oskar Guilbert, CEO at DON’T NOD Entertainment. “Our commitment to fostering creativity and pushing the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay has led us to structure our organization, paving the way to deepening our specialized expertise in each genre. With a focus on strategic business growth, DON’T NOD seeks to solidify its position as a market leader by capitalizing on the popularity of RPGs, Narrative Adventures, and Action Adventures.”

Fostering Innovation and Collaboration

Dedicated branches for RPG, Narrative Adventure, and Action Adventure mean that team members will have more opportunity to innovate, organize themselves more autonomously, and specialize in their respective areas of interest and expertise, fostering professional growth and skill development.

“This new organization reflects our dedication to delivering high-quality games across successful gaming genres,” adds Oskar Guilbert. “The expertise cultivated within these branches allows us to develop increasingly specialized in-house tools and ultimately, cost optimization in production. By improving our productivity and our internal capabilities, we aim to deliver memorable and unique gaming experiences that resonate with players worldwide.”

While each branch may have its own focus, there are still ample opportunities for collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas and know-how between teams leveraging their diverse skills and perspectives. This cohesive approach ensures that each project benefits from the collective expertise and creative energy of the entire studio.

Going Forward

DON’T NOD currently has seven projects in the pipeline, five of which are being developed in-house, including the highly anticipated Lost Records: Bloom & Rage developed by DON’T NOD Montréal – announced at The Game Awards 2023 – plus four unannounced projects. The remaining two projects are developed externally: Koira, developed by Belgian studio Studio Tolima and announced around Gamescom last year, and an unannounced project with Tiny Bull Studios.
Each project and branch will have DON’T NOD’s renowned skills at their core: engaging world building, compelling storytelling, and unique creative direction, all of which remain at the heart of the studio.