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[near]

So I was reading the latest issue of Edge magazine earlier that happened to have two previews of games I'm looking forward to, Ghostrunner and The Medium, I then noticed a similarity, the origin: Poland.

It got me thinking, has there been a rise in game development in Poland? A quick Google search and there have been a host of really good and thoughtful games coming out of Poland over the years. Superhot; Frostpunk and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter are all acclaimed games that I had no idea were made in Poland. Dying Light and This War of Mine are two more worth mentioning.

We all know who CD Projekt Red are, the scale of The Witcher series and how they've grown into this juggernaut company. But I think they've done more than just evolve themselves exclusively, I think they may have paved a way for indie devs in Poland to not only share stories but offer optimism in the pursuit to building franchises.

Am I wrong? Has there not been an influx of games coming out of Poland (not only in quantity but in quality) over the last few years?

I found this to be an interesting read to compliment this thread:

From Communist-era roots to cash cows: Poland's gaming industry takes on the world

Poland's booming video game and esports market was worth $664 million in 2019 — up from $400 million in 2014 — and is projected to climb to nearly $850 million over the next four years, according to data from PwC.

Notable upcoming games:

Ghostrunner (2020 - PC/XB1/PS4) - A stylish cyberpunk Mirror's Edge meets Metal Gear Rising action game

The Medium - (2020 - PC/Xbox Series X) - A psychological horror composed by none other than Akira Yamaoka

Outriders (2020 - PC/PS4/PS5/XB1/Xbox Series X) - 3rd person shooter by the creators of Bulletstorm

Cyberpunk 2077 - Needs no introduction

Dying Light 2 - Also needs no introduction (even though I forgot about this one lol)

 

[GaviotaGrande]

Polska Mesjaszem narodów!

near , please don't forget about Dying Light 2!

 

[Cert.in.Death]

The rise of the Polish development scene has been extraordinary. I actually would like to read a fully researched journalistic expose detailing how a number of major influencers invested in Polish game development over the years to make it a budding bastion that other countries missed out on. Epic's partnership with People Can Fly and CD Projekt's meteoric rise are the headlines, but there certainly lesser known subplots that deserve recognition.

 

[near]

Polska Mesjaszem narodów!

near , please don't forget about Dying Light 2!

I added it in. I promise I didn't forget about that game.

The rise of the Polish development scene has been extraordinary. I actually would like to read a fully researched journalistic expose detailing how a number of major influencers invested in Polish game development over the years to make it a budding bastion that other countries missed out on. Epic's partnership with People Can Fly and CD Projekt's meteoric rise are the headlines, but there certainly lesser known subplots that deserve recognition.

To be honest everything I found online after thinking about it earlier always lead back to CD Projekt, they've been the catalyst to the bloom over there. I would love to read some indepth analysis into how and why it's growing so fast.

 

[FeiRR]

Cheap workforce is an important factor which makes Poland an attractive country for the gamedev industry. Does it make any difference from the gamer's perspective? I don't think so.

 

[Bartski]

proste

let's not forget the amazing growth of the indie scene:

PolyAmorous - upcoming: Paradise Lost (Ps5)

RG Crew - upcoming: Anthology of Fear (Ps5)

Superhot Team - upcoming: unannounced, previously: Superhot

11 bit studios - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Frostpunk, This War of Mine

Reikon games - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Ruiner

IMGN.PRO - upcoming: unannounced, previous: Kholat,

QLOC: - upcoming: Bloodborne remaster? ; previous: Dark Souls Remastered

Phobia game studio - upcoming: Carrion

The Astronauts - upcoming: Witchfire,
previously: Vanishing of Ethan Carter. (btw, studio head Adrian Chmielarz directed Painkiller and Bulletsorn under People Can Fly)

Atomic Wolf - upcoming: Liberated

The Farm 51 - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Chernobylite

Destructive Creations - upcoming: unannounced
previously: Daymare 1998, Hatred

Draw Distance - upcoming: unannounced
previously: Serial Cleaner

 

[near]

proste

let's not forget the amazing growth of the indie scene:

PolyAmorous - upcoming: Paradise Lost (Ps5)

RG Crew - upcoming: Anthology of Fear (Ps5)

Superhot Team - upcoming: unannounced, previously: Superhot

11 bit studios - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Frostpunk, This War of Mine

Reikon games - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Ruiner

IMGN.PRO - upcoming: unannounced, previous: Kholat,

QLOC: - upcoming: Bloodborne remaster? ; previous: Dark Souls Remastered

Phobia game studio - upcoming: Carrion

The Astronauts - upcoming: Witchfire,
previously: Vanishing of Ethan Carter. (btw, studio head Adrian Chmielarz directed Painkiller and Bulletsorn under People Can Fly)

Atomic Wolf - upcoming: Liberated

The Farm 51 - upcoming: unannounced,
previously: Chernobylite

Destructive Creations - upcoming: unannounced
previously: Daymare 1998, Hatred

Draw Distance - upcoming: unannounced
previously: Serial Cleaner

Holy shit Ruiner was developed by a Polish dev team too!? I couldn't find anything on The Astronauts next game, thanks for sharing this!!

 

[Bartski]

Holy shit Ruiner was developed by a Polish dev team too!? I couldn't find anything on The Astronauts next game, thanks for sharing this!!

no problem, I'd love to make this post better looking but I'm not at my desk right now. Just from the top of my head, I'm sure there is more

Witchfire: http://www.theastronauts.com/2017/12/new-game-witchfire/

 

[Kazza]

Don't forget MegaPixel Studio. They are the Polish studio behind the Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead remakes.

 

[Bartski]

4 title strong presence today at the GamesRadar's showcase incl. Paradise Lost, where the story takes place in Cracow, just like in Bloober's The Medium

 

[Ian Henry]

I'm interested in this scene. Reminds me of how the Iranian game Development scene was rising.

 

[molasar]

I'm interested in this scene. Reminds me of how the Iranian game Development scene was rising.

The Polish scene started in the 80s.

 

[Ian Henry]

The Polish scene started in the 80s.

Oh word. Then it's been happening for a long time.

 

[molasar]

Oh word. Then it's been happening for a long time.

However the first Polish non-commercial game was made in 1960 on XYZ (https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/XYZ). A computer version of Tic-tac-toe.

Here is some short documentary about the oldest Polish games.

Najstarsze polskie gry komputerowe - lata 80' - GRYOnline.pl

Dziś o polskich produkcjach ze świata wirtualnej rozrywki jest dosyć głośno. Wiedźmin, This War of Mine, Painkiller - to są znane i rozpoznawane marki. Nie od nich się jednak zaczęło. Polskie gry swój początek mają jeszcze w czasach komuny. Oto krótka historia ciężkich początków rodzimych produkcji.

tvgry.pl