Mike Morhaime Launches New Game Development Company, Dreamhaven
Blizzard Entertainment co-founder and former CEO, Mike Morhaime announced the launch of a new game development company, Dreamhaven. Morhaime is joined by other Blizz veterans, including, Amy Morhaime, Jason Chayes, Dustin Browder, and Ben Thompson, Chris Sigaty, Alan Dabiri, and Eric Dodds as well as many other gaming industry veterans. The new company currently has two games studios, Moonshot Games and Secret Door.
Moonshot Games is led by Chayes, Browder, and Thompson. Chayes, the studio head said,
Though it’s very early days, when we think about Moonshot, we imagine a studio that celebrates curiosity and courage. We aspire to be bold in our approach, and we think the best way to do that is to create a culture centered around trust. That’s at the heart of how we’d like to work together and also how we’d like to connect with players once we’re a bit further down the road.
Secret Door is being led by Chris Sigaty, Alan Dabiri, and Eric Dodds. Sigaty, the studio said,
At Secret Door, we are passionate about bringing players together in positive ways while building a sustainable home for creators. Dreamhaven is providing everything we need to head into uncharted territory. We cannot wait for others to join us on our journey!
Dreamhaven, based in Irvine, is still in its early stages and no games have been reported to be in the works. Still, Moonshot Games will focus on larger projects while Secret Door will focus on smaller projects and the parent company will provide everything they need. This new company is about more than games for these industry veterans. It’s about reimagining “the studio model by empowering studios to establish independent identities, voices and cultures.”
“We’re not in a hurry to go out and get funding because the most important thing is to make sure we retain control over the company’s decision making,” Morhaime told VentureBeat. “When we do go out and seek investment, we want to be aligned in terms of vision and values.”
Both Mike and Amy Morhaime left Blizzard—Activision Blizzard in 2018 and traveled while trying to figure out life after Blizzard. As Jason Chayes told VentureBeat, “…there are still more stories to tell, more games to make...” From the Dreamhaven website, they will “take the chances that most big publishers won't and many smaller studios aren't always able to” while providing “ a safe place where developers, creators, and players can connect in meaningful ways.”
