Gearbox Softwarenow hasBorderlands 3in its rearview mirror, but its plans for the future are bigger than ever. The game developer and publisher has now confirmed that it’s expanding and will be adding another studio based in Montreal, Quebec, makingGearboxa three-studio company. The new Montreal studio is said to quickly grow to around 250 employees, bringing Gearbox’s total to over 850. The studio will be led by the co-Studio Heads of Gearbox’s Quebec City team, Pierre-Andre Dery and Sebastien Caisse.
While it isn’t explicitly stated,Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchforddescribes that the new Montreal studio will be a place developers can go to work on either existing Gearbox franchises or “new, original ideas.” Dery seconded this point, saying that the new development team will work on both theBorderlandsfranchise, as well as new IP. It’s possible the team could support the development ofTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsas it gets started, but no specific projects were named.
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The confirmation thatGearbox Montreal will be working on new IPis particularly exciting, especially considering the only new IP Gearbox has put out in the past 15 years besidesBorderlandswas 2016’sBattleborn. That could explain why Gearbox’s Quebec City studio heads decided to transfer to the Montreal studio. It could grant them the opportunity to lead development on Gearbox’s next big thing.
As for why Gearbox is choosing to expand yet again in Quebec, co-director Caisse explains that the Gearbox’s Quebec City expansion in 2015 was a “resounding success.” He goes on to say that there’s a lot of talent in Montreal and that the city willallow Gearbox to rapidly growto the studio’s needs. Gearbox also confirmed that the studio is being formed with the support of Montreal International and Investissement Quebec, government investment agencies for both the city and province.
TheMontreal studiofor Gearbox may not be the company’s last expansion, either. Pitchford is quoted as saying that Gearbox is “ambitiously” looking for expansion opportunities both within the United States and internationally. Quebec City and Montreal may be just the first studios in what could become a network of Gearbox teams across the world.
It’ll likely be some time before more information is shared about Gearbox’s Montreal studio. Building a team takes a long time. Building a team of 250 takes a very long time. Plus, it sounds like Gearbox Montreal will be supporting thedevelopment ofBorderlandsas it grows. WhenGearbox Montrealdoes come back into the news in however many years, it may have a new IP worth looking forward to.
