David Vonderhaar's new shooter inspired by David Lynch

David Vonderhaar, one of the best-known developers behind the Call of Duty franchise, is working on a new shooter that can’t simply be labeled a “Call of Duty killer.” Vonderhaar has stressed that his new project, currently in development at his studio BulletFarm, is heading in a very different direction from the military sims that made the series so popular.

A unique take on the genre

In conversations with Bloomberg, Vonderhaar explained that the new game, while still a shooter, will be more than the traditional military action players are used to. He describes the project as “what if David Lynch made shooters.” That striking comparison frames the game as one where surreal and psychological elements will play a major role.

The design team wants players to work together while also battling environmental threats and each other. That points to a possible PvPvE (Player vs Player vs Environment) mode, where teamwork and strategic thinking will be essential.

Inspiration from surreal cinema

David Lynch, the legendary filmmaker known for surreal films and TV shows like Twin Peaks, is a key inspiration for Vonderhaar’s vision. Lynch died in 2025, but his influence and style remain relevant worldwide. The term “Lynchian” is often used to describe works that carry a similarly strange and unsettling aesthetic. Those kinds of elements could be woven into the story and gameplay systems of Vonderhaar’s new shooter.

At Remedy, the studio behind games like Alan Wake and Control, Lynch was also cited as an inspiration for several projects. Interestingly, the internal codename for Alan Wake 2 was “Big Fish,” a reference to Lynch’s autobiography Catching the Big Fish, further highlighting the connection between game development and film art.

The future of BulletFarm and the shooter

Development on the new shooter is taking place under the BulletFarm banner, a studio partly funded by GreaterThan Group. That came after Vonderhaar’s team previously lost funding from NetEase. Despite the challenges, Vonderhaar is optimistic about the project and estimates it will take about three more years to finish.

Right now, fewer than 50 people are working on the game, and Vonderhaar has said he doesn’t necessarily want to expand the team, because he believes that “money doesn’t guarantee quality, people do.” After nearly 20 years working on Call of Duty, most of that time at Treyarch, Vonderhaar reflected on the limits of working on a popular franchise that largely delivers the same experience to fans every year.

Conclusion

David Vonderhaar’s new shooter promises a fresh perspective on the genre, with clear inspiration from David Lynch’s complex and surreal approach. As the game develops, it will be interesting to see how PvPvE gameplay and environmental challenges are integrated into Vonderhaar’s unique vision. It will be worth keeping an eye on BulletFarm’s progress and Lynch’s influence on the game.