In sharing a greeting for the new year on the studio's official website, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian creator Fumito Ueda's genDESIGN has unleashed another tease regarding his next game. Ueda founded GenDesign during The Last Guardian's production several years ago. By 2018, the crew, comprised of ex-Team Ico staffers, had begun work on a brand-new title, presumably the one that is presently in development.
The last update about GenDesign's latest endeavor made the rounds in spring 2019. At the time, the company announced its partnership with Unreal Engine and Fortnite creator, Epic Games. Under its recently established publishing arm, Epic Games Publishing, Epic is covering the production costs, staff salaries, and other expenses of multiple teams and their new projects. When all is said and done, the publisher and developer will split earnings straight down the middle. GenDesign signed one such deal with Epic, as did Playdead (Limbo) and Remedy Entertainment (Control).
Visiting GenDesign's website should reveal a new header image, complete with a message that simply reads, "We hope you will have a great year." It's a nice gesture; better still, the picture seems to feature somewhat of a subtle teaser shot. Right above the aforementioned line of text sits a large "2021" graphic. A screenshot from four different games is embedded within each of the four numbers. Ico's Yorda and Ico are on display in the first image. The second picture is from Shadow of the Colossus, while Trico and the boy from The Last Guardian make up the third screenshot. Finally, the final image in "2021" boasts a previously unseen slice of concept art, depicting what appears to be a young man in a red cape navigating around a large rock or mass of land.
Since details about GenDesign's next title are so incredibly scarce, there's very little to glean from the brief look. Ueda and company don't seem too fond of sequels, either; thus, it seems safe to assume the studio currently has its hands full with a new IP. Since Ueda's previous titles, in many respects, pushed boundaries in exploration and interactivity, it's possible the his and the team's next endeavor will tackle similar feats.
None of the games being developed under Epic Games' publishing division have been shown in any great detail just yet. When such information will begin to surface is anyone's guess for the time being, but the tease above suggests GenDesign could be among the first to lift the veil.
Source: GenDesign