Hidden Horses includes over 20 former Id Software developers and aims to provide staff with ownership stakes in their work, according to a report. The studio is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund its first project, the single-player FPS Danger Pay, with funds intended for licenses, hardware, and healthcare.
Co-founder Andrew Willis stated the studio's structure emphasizes developer commitment, saying, "We're creating a studio where the developers share in its success and have a commitment to it beyond just another job." A former rendering programmer noted the shift from corporate to self-directed risk, stating, "All we have to do now is succeed."
The studio's flat structure avoids investor demands, with leaders democratically appointed, as reported by one outlet. Hidden Horses plans to create "classic gameplay-focused games" without "trend chasing," according to producer Andrew Willis, who emphasized staff input in decision-making.