Crackdown Vets Form Ruffian Games

Last month’s leak of a new studio appears to be turning out true, as Kotaku reports that Ruffian Games has been formally announced. Gaz Liddon is serving as studio head and Billy Thomson is the creative director of the studio, which is composed of several development veterans who worked on titles like Fable 2 and Crackdown.

“Our highest priority is gameplay,” said Thomson in the press release. “Above all, we want to provide an online experience rivaling any other through co-operative and competitive multiplayer gaming. Online play is the future of gaming and we’re incredibly excited about where that is going to take us.” Regarding the staff, Liddon added, “it simply isn’t possible for any studio to have a better start than this.”

When the leak first hit, rumors flew that the studio was set to work on Crackdown 2. This news doesn’t confirm that bit, but it does give word of “a development contract with a major publisher” for their first project. Half of the rumor has been proven true, so we’ll have to wait and see if the rest as well.