The gaming world sees another shift as NetEase closes the doors of T-Minus Zero Entertainment. This studio, established in 2023, was the brainchild of Rich Vogel, previously an executive producer on Star Wars: The Old Republic at BioWare.
T-Minus Zero had been dedicated to crafting an ambitious online sci-fi action experience. The project benefited from the expertise of several veterans from both BioWare and Bethesda, including Mark Tucker, a lead designer on Fallout 76, and senior producer Scott Malone. Unfortunately, NetEase determined that the game and the studio’s continued operation didn’t align with the “current market environment”.
Rich Vogel shared news of the partnership’s end with NetEase via a LinkedIn post on August 26th. Game Developer has since independently verified the complete closure of the studio, as no alternative funding source was secured.
In his LinkedIn statement, Vogel wrote, “Every journey has its twists and turns, and our time with NetEase is concluding.” He expressed gratitude toward NetEase for their extensive support, “from assisting us in identifying potential investors to providing the necessary time and resources to develop our game into a fully functional, hands-on demo. This demo garnered considerable interest. However, despite this achievement, prevailing market conditions have made it impossible for us to secure the necessary funding at this juncture.”
Vogel also lauded his team’s “dedication and passion,” stating that, “while this may not be the ideal moment to seek funding given the current economic climate, our playable demo demonstrates our capacity to create something innovative and engaging that will resonate with players for years to come.”
According to Game Developer’s reporting, prominent NetEase figures have publicly praised the studio’s efforts. Simon Zhu, former president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase, commented on the prototype’s ability to “deliver [the] great fantasy of fighting against 15th floor kaiju to protect the city you care about.” Cisco Maldonado, head of brand/publishing for North America & Europe at NetEase, described it as “a super great concept and [in my opinion] a solid market fit.”
When contacted, a NetEase representative informed Game Developer that “this decision was made after careful deliberation, as we were deeply impressed by our collaboration with the studio and their ambitious vision. However, we have had to re-evaluate our business priorities and are now working closely with the studio to offer support and explore potential next steps.”
NetEase has been reportedly making cuts to staff and projects recently after investing in several studios spearheaded by well-known personalities in the AAA gaming industry. Last November, they ceased operations at Worlds Untold, a studio founded by Mac Walters, a former writer for the Mass Effect series. In January of this year, a similar fate befell Jar Of Sparks, the studio led by Jerry Hook, the former head of design on Halo Infinite. February saw NetEase reducing the size of the development team working on Marvel Rivals and implementing layoffs at Liquid Swords, a studio started by Christofer Sundberg, a co-founder of Avalanche Studios.
We wish all former employees of T-Minus Zero Entertainment the best in their search for new opportunities.