Undead Labs boss Philip Holt discussed how a delay or missed deadline can be managed by the bigger companies, but can be ‘life or death” for independent studios.
For those who may not know, after last month’s Xbox reorganization, Undead Labs has become an independent studio. They are preparing to release State of Decay 3 next year. The studio’s boss recently talked about what it is like to be independent and mentioned that the stakes can be considerably higher without the support of a massive company behind them.
Undead Labs Boss Grateful to Release the Game Without Bringing in Investors
Under the new arrangement, State of Decay 3 isn’t coming from Undead Labs alone; Virtuos, Wushu, and Blind Squirrel are supporting development. During an interview with The Game Business, Philip Holt said he’s grateful to be able to do this without investors; however, that doesn’t mean he thinks there’s something wrong with investors. But at the moment, because the team is pre-revenue, there’s a risk in becoming a “durable, independent company,” and most financial institutions would be looking for a majority share.
Holt discussed how being part of a larger company involved serving multiple objectives and meeting various directives. Now, however, the focus is solely on creating the best possible game. While the primary goal was similar under Xbox, there is now a “cleaner, clearer line of sight to the audience.” Holt acquired Undead Labs by establishing Full Measure, and all shareholders are Undead Labs employees. They are currently issuing stock options to all staff members.
Holt also said Full Measure wasn’t founded typically, and he isn’t employee one, raised the startup capital, or taken the commercial risk. The company’s current value has been created by its team, and hence he feels it’s important that every member of the team “has a stake and an opportunity for upside participation, because so much of the company’s worth is the work that they have contributed to.”
Additionally, he feels ownership of the work they are doing is important, as State of Decay 3 is facing even more pressure after Undead Labs went independent. He adds that “As part of a multi-trillion company, a slight delay or a missed deadline can be managed. As an independent, it could be life or death.”
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