BloodPop has written and produced songs for Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Grimes, and more. The new game studio will start with ‘an ambitious third person shooter.’
The confluence of gaming and music continues as BloodPop — a producer known for working with the likes of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé — has announced a new game studio. Called Genpop Interactive, the studio’s ambitious goal is to “drive forward the next-gen of music, fashion, and gaming culture.”
To start, the studio — which currently has a headcount of more than 25 developers — will be making a “third person shooter with novel movement and combat mechanics.” The studio’s first round of investors includes Ed Fries, co-creator of the original Xbox, and Japanese entertainment firm Good Smile Company. There aren’t really any other details, but in a statement, BloodPop said that the goal is to move beyond gaming and tap into broader pop culture:
At a time when low risk tolerance among established studios has resulted in predictable re-releases capitalizing on millennial nostalgia, Gen-Z is eager for new IP that speaks to them, and has a long legacy that defines their generation. Major studios have become complacent, relying on giving the Weekend at Bernie’s treatment to their old IP with their publicly traded necromancy. We aren’t just on a mission to create the next great game, but nurture the generation of popular culture.
Additionally, the studio released this piece of splash art:
Genpop’s announcement feels like the natural evolution of an ongoing trend, with the worlds of gaming, music, and fashion constantly colliding. Fortnite has been at the forefront, with the likes of Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, Marshmello, and more being featured; there’s even a Bandcamp-powered in-game radio station. We’ve also seen Blackpink in PUBG Mobile, Porter Robinson create songs for League of Legends, and Lil Nas X collaborate with both Roblox and League of Legends.
With all of that going on, a studio built from the ground up to take advantage of these trends makes a lot of sense — though it’s important to note that most of these titles expanded into music and fashion after becoming gaming behemoths. More details on Genpop’s first game are expected “in the coming months.”