Turtle Rock Studios has moved on from Valve to create a new multiplayer franchise for THQ.
Valve owns Left 4 Dead now, but the franchise’s development began with Turtle Rock Studios which Valve acquired partway through the original game’s development. Turtle Rock and Valve parted ways before the release of Left 4 Dead 2, and the studio has now moved on to sign a deal with THQ.
In a press release, THQ vice president of core games Danny Bilson said: “Turtle Rock Studios is responsible for one of the most original, critically acclaimed co-operative games of this generation, and we are incredibly excited to be working with them on their next project, which looks set to make a similar impact in the multiplayer space.”
Turtle Rock COO Phil Rob adds: “This project is the most ambitious thing we’ve ever attempted, and we’re inspired by the support THQ has shown to help us realize that vision. We’re going to take the first person shooter experience to a whole new level, and we can’t wait to show the game for the first time in the months ahead.”
Normally, I wouldn’t pay much attention to carefully prepared PR quotes, but they’re currently the only hints we have as to what Turtle Rock is working on. It’ll be an original IP and multiplayer-focused, but it doesn’t yet have a title.
The press release states that the project won’t be shown off at E3 2011. The reason for this could be because it’s still early, as THQ mentions that the game is scheduled for release in faraway 2013. Turtle Rock will probably give us another avenue through which to shoot things or each other, but who knows, maybe the game will be all about racing unicorns through a land made of happiness.
