Gearbox is expanding once again. After already opening a studio in Quebec to help make Borderlands 3, Gearbox is now expanding further in la belle province by creating a new studio in Montreal.
Gearbox Montreal was just announced today as the company's second major studio expansion in the past six years. The $200 million studio will add 250 tech jobs to Montreal and expand Gearbox's total workforce to 850 employees.
Industry veterans Sébastien Caisse, Ph.D and Pierre-André Déry will co-lead the new studio.
“Following our successful experience establishing Gearbox Studio Quebec, our investment in a new studio in Montreal creates an exciting new prospect for Montreal-based talent – whether they wish to work on existing Gearbox franchises, or help with the creation of new, original ideas," said Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford in a prepared statement. "With Sébastien and Pierre-André’s leadership, I know the incredible local game development community will welcome Gearbox Studio Montreal and its balance between major studio muscle and local team culture as a needed addition to the city.”
Related: Duke Nukem Begins Test Footage Resurfaces
While Randy makes it seem like Montreal doesn't quite have a game plan yet, co-studio-lead Pierre-André Déry said that the studio would "assemble a new development team to work on the Borderlands franchise and create new IP in Montreal."
Montreal is home to quite a few big-name developers, including EA Motive, Eidos, Ubisoft Montreal, WB Games Montreal, Unity Monreal, and many smaller developers like Boyfriend Dungeon's Kitfox Games. Gearbox Montreal will join their ranks with competitive benefits, a "commitment to anti-crunch culture," and a "substantial" contribution to employee retirement plans.
As for what Gearbox is working on, there's of course Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, the new Homeworld mobile game, Project 1v1, and at least one totally unannounced project. There hasn't been any official Borderlands news, but you just know Gearbox is already tinkering with a fourth entry, or at least another spinoff game.