David Vonderhaar's new shooter: a fresh take on FPS experiences

David Vonderhaar, the former design director of Call of Duty: Black Ops, has revealed his next game, and it looks to be a significant departure from the military shooters he became known for. Vonderhaar has confirmed that his new project is not a "Call of Duty killer," but rather a co-op shooter that challenges players to face both environmental hazards and each other. The innovative game is being described as a PvPvE experience, with the slogan "if David Lynch made shooters" serving as inspiration.

About David Vonderhaar

David Vonderhaar has had a long and influential career in the games industry. He spent nearly 20 years at Treyarch, where he played a key role in developing some of the most popular entries in the Call of Duty franchise, especially Black Ops 2. In 2023, he left the company, a year before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was released, which came as a surprise to many fans. Vonderhaar soon after founded his own studio, BulletFarm.

BulletFarm and GreaterThan Group

Vonderhaar's new studio, BulletFarm, began work on a game in 2024, but there are signs that the original project has been shelved in favor of a new idea. BulletFarm has joined GreaterThan Group, a holding company that also includes former NetEase executive Simon Zhu. This marks a new direction for Vonderhaar, who believes a small team can create unique, high-quality experiences without the need for a bloated budget or a huge staff.

Gameplay and expectations

So far, very few concrete details are known about the new project's gameplay. However, Vonderhaar has said that players will need to work together to overcome both the environment and other players. The game promises high-intensity action and a systemic, cinematic sense of immersion, clearly aiming to deliver a unique, surreal experience that challenges the traditional shooter formula. Vonderhaar hopes the game will be ready within three years and prefers to keep working with a small team of fewer than 50 people.

Vonderhaar's original approach and focus on innovative gameplay in a new FPS experience are creating high expectations in the gaming community. As more information becomes available about the title and mechanics, gamers can look forward to a unique addition to the genre.