In an announcement today via Facebook, Japanese developer Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro – most well known for founding Access Games which made Deadly Premonition and D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die – has revealed his new studio White Owls Inc.
Towards the end of 2015 Swery took a break from Access Games citing health reasons, before confirming his departure from the company in the latter half of 2016. He then created White Owls Inc. on 1st November 2016 the official website indicates, with Swery saying today’s unveiling: “We, White Owls Inc. are just a newly born studio. However, I am developing very hard to deliver a wonderful game to you all over the world. I look forward to your continued support.” He then adds in a further post: “White Owls plans to offer various contents as well as games.”
So what does this all have to do with virtual reality (VR)? While the developer hasn’t yet mentioned the technology in any of his posts (so far), White Owls Inc’s. website does have a VR quick link button at the top of the site taking you to a page that showcases several short videos under the title of VR Media Research Project.
What Swery actually plans to create for VR is still unknown, but talking talking to Gamasutra he gives a general outline of the content to expect: “We want to create games for YOU, the people who like us. Games that are bizarre, scary, grotesque, and dreamlike, yet also have a strange realism. Games that remind you of the past, that are comical, and sad yet lovable. Those are the kind of games we’ll be making.”
VRFocus will continue to follow the progress of White Owls Inc., reporting back with any further VR updates.